I struggle with anxiety in my life partially due to perfection. My anxiety (lets call her Becky, since she’s that perfect cheerleader from high school) tells me I have to do everything perfectly. What’s the point of doing it if it isn’t done perfect. Yep She ruins a lot of things and has stopped me from growing in the past. But no more.
Leadership is not about perfection. The leaders I have looked up to the most in my life have been imperfect, and that is what I loved about them. Leadership like life is about not being perfect, its about trying and failing and then trying again. The belief of perfection being the only option is what keeps you from trying in the first place.
Yes failing sucks, especially as a leader because it could mean you are failing others. But what do you think you are doing if you don’t even try?! FAILING! Failing isn’t fun, but it is just a stepping stone to success. As a leader it is an important step. People need to see that it is hard, see that you don’t have all the answers and that you fail sometimes too. Leaders aren’t to be put on pedestals and looked at as perfect, because that is unattainable.
Leadership is about taking those failures and vaulting forward from them and never forgetting. Telling others about your failures in hopes that it could help them along the way. Its about getting back up and trying again and never giving up.
You will never grow as a leader or a person if you don’t fail. The thing is don’t let that failure keep you down. Learn from that failure, and don’t be afraid to fail again…just don’t fail the same way. And don’t forget to be honest. Own your mistakes and failures, don’t hide.
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