Failing Forward: The Leadership Superpower No One Talks About Enough

 

 

“Failure is not the opposite of success. It’s part of the process.” – Arianna Huffington

We’ve all been there.

That moment where something didn’t go to plan.
The pitch that fell flat.
The project that missed the mark.
The conversation that went sideways.

For many leaders, these moments feel like a scar.
But what if they could become our superpower?

What Is “Failing Forward”?

Failing forward isn’t just a mindset—it’s a method.
It’s the conscious practice of using failure as fuel.

Rather than hiding it or blaming others, you:

• Own it with transparency

• Extract the lesson

• Share the learning

• Apply it to grow

This is what separates good leaders from great ones. Not avoiding failure—but growing through it.

Why Failing Forward Matters in the Workplace

A Harvard Business Review study showed that teams led by vulnerable and honest leaders had significantly higher levels of psychological safety and innovation.

When you model failing forward:

• People take smarter risks

• Learning accelerates

• Blame decreases

• Accountability increases

• You build a resilient, high-trust culture

How to Create a “Fail Forward” Culture in Your Team

1. Talk about your own failures

   Vulnerability is contagious. When you lead with honesty, others feel safe to do the same.

2. Debrief everything—not just wins

   After every project, ask:

   • What worked?

   • What didn’t?

   • What will we do differently next time?

3. Celebrate learning, not just results

   Recognize and reward smart risk-taking—even when it doesn’t work out. That’s how innovation is born.

4. Create psychological safety

   Make it okay to say “I don’t know” or “That didn’t go well.” The more human your space, the more growth you’ll unlock.

Some of my biggest breakthroughs—as a coach, a leader, and a woman—came after moments of failure.

But I chose not to shrink.
I chose not to hide.
I chose to keep walking—with a deeper understanding and a stronger voice.

That’s what I want for every leader I work with.
Not perfection. But presence. Growth. Courage.

Over to you now. Ask yourself:

• What failure in your leadership journey shaped you the most?

• How did you grow because of it?

• And how can you make it safe for others to fail forward too?

 

Let’s stop hiding failure.
Let’s start honouring the wisdom it brings.

You don’t need to lead perfectly.
You just need to lead forward.

To your success,
Isabel

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👇 Which lesson has impacted you the most? Drop it in the comments!

Isabel Valle is an award-winning Peak Performance Strategist and global leadership coach, dedicated to helping executives and business leaders achieve sustainable success. Through her acclaimed programs like Leadership Reimagined and Lead365, Isabel equips leaders with the tools to foster innovation, build high-performing teams, and thrive in a fast-evolving world.  A sought-after speaker and author, Isabel blends data-driven insights with a human-centered approach to deliver transformative results. Learn more at www.isabelvalle.com.