9,000 misses, 1,093 patents & 24 Grammys: Unlocking failure's success formula

THE ART & SCIENCE OF LEADING SELF
Harnessing the Power of Failure

My friend, I know the fear of failure has gripped you at times.

It has definitely gripped me occasionally over the past few years. When it arrives, it can feel like a force unto itself. From an anthropological perspective, this makes sense.

In early hunter-gatherer communities, failure was often associated with threats to survival.

This deep-seated fear is hardwired into your brain as a survival mechanism, prompting you to avoid situations where failure might occur.

Social cohesion and reputation were crucial for survival in early human societies. Back then, public failure could lead to a loss of status or trust within the group. A diminished status could jeopardize access to shared resources or protection.

These same associations between failure and social risk influence modern behavior.

It’s why you may feel intense anxiety when the possibility of it looms, even when the modern consequences of it are rarely life-threatening.

Fortunately, neuroscience presents data that offer another perspective on failure. Emerging research identifies failure as a catalyst for growth based on how it activates neural pathways related to learning and memory. This means you can harness failure as a powerful tool for your personal and professional development.

This starts by shifting how you interpret failure.

Today, I want to present 3 interesting pieces of neuroscience research that offer different ways to perceive and respond to failure.

1. Failure + Neuroplasticity = Adaptability

Think back to when you first learned to ride a bicycle without training wheels.

If you were like me, you fell down a lot. But each time you got up and re-engaged, something amazing was happening. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to continue growing, evolving, and reorganizing itself in response to life experiences.

Each time you fell and reengaged, the neural pathways in your brain formed new connections.

The connections being built were focused on enabling you to remain upright on your bike.

Your brain’s neuroplasticity functions in such a way that when you engage with failure, you cultivate adaptability. At the same time, confronting and learning from failure enhances your neuroplasticity by promoting the growth of new neurons and synapses. It’s a win-win.

👉🏽 Bottom line: Leaders who embrace failure can actively rewire their brains to view challenges as opportunities for growth. This mindset shift leads to greater adaptability.

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THE ART & SCIENCE OF LEADING SELF
Harnessing the Power of Failure

2. A Growth Mindset 🔄 Neuroplasticity

Michael Jordan famously said, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Carol Dweck’s research about a growth mindset—the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort—is closely linked to neuroplasticity.

Her research identified that individuals with a growth mindset are more likely to view failure as a learning opportunity. In fact, failure plays a crucial role in learning by providing the brain with opportunities to strengthen neural pathways associated with learning and resilience.

Jordan’s quote beautifully illustrates 3 insights about failure, a growth mindset, and neuroplasticity:

• The power of a growth mindset over the arc of an entire career

He makes it clear that he viewed every missed shot as a lesson. This perspective supported his continued effort and improvement. A fixed mindset would have ended his career prematurely because it would have drawn a different lesson from the missed shots.

• A growth mindset promotes neuroplasticity

Each miss presented him the opportunity to refine his skills because of his ability to accept failure as part of the learning process. With every missed shot, his brain was working to refine his motor skills, decision making, etc. to ensure he made future shots. His success and mastery of the game was the product of his failures and commitment to keep trying.

• Neuroplasticity supports the development of a growth mindset

Jordan’s neuroplasticity enabled him to view each setback as something bringing him closer to success. By viewing failure as part of the process and staying engaged, he allowed time for the formation of new neural pathways. Those pathways supported the continuous improvement of an athlete who will go down in history as the GOAT.

👉🏽 Bottom line: By reframing failure as a tool to enhance neuroplasticity, you can foster a growth mindset that:

• Supports continuous learning

• Leads to lasting structural changes in the brain

• Cultivates Resilience and fosters Innovation

3. Failure Strengthens Neural Pathways for Innovation

Thomas Edison failed thousands of times while inventing the lightbulb.

He once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” This statement highlights that he viewed failure as part of the innovation process. Each failure moved him a step closer to success.

That’s because the neural pathways activated during failure work to explore new solutions and approaches.

This shows up as enhanced creativity and problem solving.

So, while the amygdala may trigger your desire to run from failure, repeated engagement with it enhances neuroplasticity. This sets the groundwork for your brain to be more adept at generating novel solutions and driving Innovation.

👉🏽 Bottom line: Leaders who leverage failure to reinforce neural pathways cultivate a Mindset that drives Innovation.

FROM INSIGHT TO ACTION
Putting It Into Practice

How you relate to failure plays a vital role in how you lead yourself and others.

Understanding how you can leverage neuroplasticity to shift that relationship empowers you to directly impact the cultivation of your Mindset, Resilience, and Innovation. Plus, while not explicitly addressed above, your Mindset shift around failure shapes your ability to move forward with Courage.

How do you put these insights into action?

➡️ Start with gratitude.

Each time you experience a failure, take a moment to express gratitude for the growth it offers. Acknowledge the lesson, even if it’s uncomfortable, and thank yourself for the opportunity to learn and improve.

Developing this habit will help you shift how you relate to failure. This shift will help you cultivate greater capacity in Mindset, Courage, Resilience, and Innovation.

Bonus: As you develop in this area, you will be better-equipped to cultivate a culture within your organization that harnesses the power of failure.

TELL ME MORE, TELL ME MORE
Resources for You

Take a deep dive into the power of a growth mindset with this groundbreaking read (link)

Want to explore a growth mindset in greater detail? (link)

Want to know more about neuroplasticity? (link)

Ready to rewire your brain? Here are 6 ways. (link)

Tap into the power of neuroplasticity by leveraging 10 key principles. (link)

EXCELLENCE UNBOUNDED
How I Can Help You

🚀 CEO Coaching Programs: Are you a CEO who wants to:

• Skillfully navigate uncertainty 

• Lead confidently

• Drive results

Developing greater leadership capacity in 4 key domains (Mindset, Courage, Resilience, & Innovation) will empower you to do all three.

Book time to learn about the bespoke 1:1 coaching programs I deliver. During this call, we will talk about your challenges, your goals, and how we might partner to fully “unbound your excellence.”

🎤 Speaking Engagements: My mom can attest to the fact that I LOVE to talk. 😂 Now, I put that talent to work delivering talks on Mindset, Courage, Resilience, & Innovation.

A few past clients include KraftHeinz, Amazon Women @ Payments, PAHEi, & the Panamá Chapter of the International Coaching Federation (I delivered this talk in Spanish).

If you are interested in having me speak at your event, please fill out this form.

Until next week,

Shawnette