Life is filled with opportunities to fail.
Common knowledge tells us failure is inevitable on the path to success. And that’s okay because falling down and getting back up again makes us stronger and more resilient.
But there are only so many times we can fall down before we start to hedge our bets.
Because let’s face it, falling down hurts. Too many falls and we start to think there’s something wrong with us, or the system, or with life. We become discouraged and we stop trying.
If you want people and teams to take risks, explore and innovate, you have to put up the gutter guards. Just like in bowling, we need to make people feel secure as they try out new skills, experiences and pathways.
In business, good leaders play the role of gutter guards, building environments where their people feel safe and supported to try out new things without fear of the fail. They build people’s confidence and competencies first so they can handle the gutters later knowing they are only temporary setbacks that they can overcome.
And the by-product of being a good gutter guard is it increases trust and respect.
A Team Human Conversation
Fight workplace zombies in your organization and join Team Human! Gather a group of fellow workplace zombie hunters to discuss our most recent blog post. Use the questions below to kick-start your conversation.
How do you address the challenge of individuals becoming discouraged and disheartened after experiencing setbacks? What steps do you take to rekindle their motivation to keep trying?
In your interactions, how do you navigate the fine line between providing support and guidance while still allowing individuals autonomy to learn from their mistakes?
Can you share specific strategies or examples from your experience how you or a leader successfully played the role of "gutter guard" to create a secure environment?