(I went back into my John Maxwell library to pull the content below from his book, Failing Forward. As I always tell my team and family, every obstacle we face is an opportunity for growth if we view it the right way.)
Teachability is an attitude, a mind-set that says, “No matter how much I know (or think I know), I can learn from this situation.”
That kind of thinking can help you turn adversity into advantage. It can make you a winner even during the most difficult circumstances.
Anyone can make failure a friend by maintaining a teachable attitude and using a strategy for learning from failure.
To turn losses into profits, ask the following questions every time you face adversity:
1. What caused the failure: the situation, someone else, or self?
You cannot find out what to do unless you do all you can to find out what went wrong. Always begin the learning process by trying to identify the cause of a problem.
2. Was what happened truly a failure, or did I just fall short?
What you think is your fault may have been an attempt to fulfill unrealistic expectations. It doesn’t matter whether you place them on yourself or someone else does; if a goal is unrealistic and you miss it, that is not a failure.
3. What successes are contained in the failure?
No matter what kind of failure you experience, there is always a potential jewel of success contained in it.
Sometimes it may be hard to find. But you can discover it if you’re willing to look for it.
4. What can I learn from what happened?
It’s difficult to give general guidelines about how to learn from mistakes because every situation is different. But if you maintain a teachable attitude as you approach the process and try to learn anything you can about what you could do differently, you will improve yourself.
5. Am I grateful for the experience?
One way to maintain a teachable mind-set is to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. And that’s possible even in the face of a huge disappointment.
6. How can I turn this into a success?
Determining what went wrong in a situation has value. But taking that analysis another step and figuring out how to use it to your benefit is the real difference maker when it comes to failing forward.
7. Who can help me with this issue?
Learning from your failure is always easier with the help of a wise counselor. Seeking advice from the right person is important.
8. Where do I go from here?
Once you’ve done all the thinking, you’ve got to figure out what to do next. In their book, Everyone’s a Coach, Don Shula and Ken Blanchard state.
“Learning is defined as a change in behavior. You haven’t learned a thing until you can take action and use it.”
~Evolution of Self
#failforward #opportunity #experience #learning #growth #mondaymotivaton