Mistakes in Leadership = Learning

Have you ever been thrust into a leadership position that left you feeling in over your head.  Fear is a paralyzing thing for many people.  I am really not sure which is the greatest fear.  Many would say it is the fear of failure, but I often wonder if it is really the fear of success.  The thinking often comes into play when a leader, whether by title or just reality of life, knows that there is another step that needs to be taken but they also results that taking the step will change their life.  If they step out and fail, there is the embarrassment that comes with failure.  They may lose their job, their position, their family, their home, who knows what they might lose.  But on the other hand if they take the leap of faith and it works, people will expect that over and over again.   There might be a promotion, a new job, a new company, more pay, more incentives, more responsibility, more hours, more chances to fail the next time.  So many potentially great leaders, choose to do nothing!!!  What a mistake!!!   

Mistakes are inevitable if you are a leader!  However, the greatest mistake by far is to do nothing.  Yogi Berra didn't always make a lot of sense but he did know that when you come to the fork in the road you better take it!  You have to do something.

Great leaders learn from others mistakes. Awesome leaders learn from their own mistakes!    When we learn from others mistakes, that is called research.  When we learn from our own mistakes, that is a risk!  My suggestion is that brilliant leaders incorporate both into their plans. 

Taking the approach of the hunter who says, "Ready, aim, aim, aim, aim, aim ..." and never pulls the trigger never gets you a trophy on the wall.   Taking the approach of "Ready FIRE", may get you a hole in the wall.  Neither is the desired result.  Don't be afraid to fail and don't be afraid to succeed.  God says he will see you through both your failures and your successes.   God tells us in Jeremiah 29 ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.