How Failures Can Propel You to Success

Failure. It’s a word we often avoid like the plague. Nobody wants to fail. But screwing up, and having the courage to try again, is often what makes us truly successful. Michael Jordan once 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 again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

So if we know that, and have experienced it, why do we still shy away from something that might result in failure?

As teachers, it’s something we often teach our students. “Fall down seven times, stand up eight.” We encourage them to embrace their failures because that’s where the greatest discoveries are made. But how can we turn classroom failures into success stories?

Don’t be afraid to admit it. When you realize something has flopped, own up to it. This could be a lesson plan, a fun activity, a 1-on-1 chat with a student, or a conversation with a colleague. After you own it, attempt something different. If it involves your students, verbalize why you aren’t satisfied with the outcome and explain the next step you’re taking.
Take inventory. The most important part of a failure is being able to identify why it wasn’t successful. If you can’t identify the failing aspects, you can’t avoid the same mistake in the future. Take some time to reflect on each specific aspect and identify successes and failures. Write it down, if you need to.
Preparation is key. Maybe something was a flop because you didn’t prepare adequately, plan ahead, or work hard enough. Often these failures can create a new motivation to give it all you’ve got.
Create teachable moments. Remember that our students are watching everything we’re doing, and taking note. Use those moments of failure to explain to them what you could have done differently. This helps them understand that everyone messes up and they get the chance to see how to handle it with grace.
Winning isn’t everything. We all like to win but if we’re truly set on learning as an outcome, it almost always comes from those tough times.

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