Transitioning to a new team can be daunting.
This goes especially for a young athlete who has played with the same group of girls since she was nine. My 14-year-old daughter recently faced this challenge as she prepared to join a new select softball team, leaving behind familiar faces and a comfortable environment. The thought of starting over was nerve-wracking for her, and I could see the anxiety in her eyes.
After making a new team her new coach invited her to play in a tournament with the 18u team he is currently coaching, and although she was hesitant, she decided to give it a shot. On the field, any signs of nervousness vanished. She hit an astounding .800, a significant leap from her usual average, and threw out three runners as a catcher. To put this in perspective, she’s entering her freshman year of high school and was competing against girls on their way to college, many of whom will be playing at the collegiate level.
After the tournament, I asked her what contributed to her remarkable performance. Her response was simple yet profound:
“My coach gave me permission to fail. For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t afraid to mess up, and it was so freeing.”
All weekend I couldn’t get what she said out of my head and it got me thinking about the broader implications of this approach in leadership. Often, we believe that pressure makes diamonds, but in reality, excessive pressure can stifle creativity, joy, and ultimately, success. Here are some key takeaways from this experience that can be applied to leadership in any field:
1. Encourage a Growth Mindset
Allowing team members to fail fosters a growth mindset. Mistakes become opportunities for learning and improvement rather than sources of fear and anxiety. When individuals are not afraid of making mistakes, they are more likely to take the necessary risks to innovate and grow.
2. Foster Creativity and Innovation
Creativity thrives in environments where failure is not only tolerated but seen as a crucial part of the process. When people know they won’t be harshly judged for their mistakes, they are more likely to think outside the box and propose innovative solutions.
3. Build Confidence
Supporting team members through their failures builds their confidence. They learn to trust their abilities and become more resilient. This newfound confidence can lead to improved performance and a willingness to tackle even more challenging tasks.
4. Create a Supportive Culture
A culture that views failure as a learning opportunity fosters loyalty and motivation. Team members are more likely to be engaged and committed when they feel supported, even in their failures.
My daughter’s coach exemplified exceptional leadership by creating a safe space for her and her teammates to excel. As leaders, whether in sports, business, or any other field, we can learn from this approach. By giving our teams permission to fail and supporting them when they do, we can unlock their true potential and achieve remarkable results.
What if, as leaders, we shifted our perspective on failure?
What if we saw it as a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block? Imagine the creativity, joy, and success that could emerge from such a mindset. Let’s give our teams permission to fail and watch them soar.