Failing Forward: How to Use Setbacks as Stepping Stones to Success
“You either win or you learn.”
That’s a phrase I’ve carried with me throughout my career. But I didn’t always see failure that way. Early on, I viewed setbacks as roadblocks—evidence that I wasn’t good enough or had made the wrong decision. It wasn’t until I started leading teams, both in the military and in business, that I realized failure isn’t the enemy. It’s the teacher.
One experience stands out. I was leading an operation that didn’t go as planned. We had trained, we had prepared, and yet, when execution time came, unforeseen challenges threw everything off track. I felt responsible. I could have let that failure define me. Instead, I chose to analyze what went wrong, adjust, and lead my team to success in the next mission. That’s when I learned one of the most powerful leadership lessons: the best leaders don’t avoid failure—they use it as fuel to grow.
If you’re leading a team, growing a business, or striving for personal success, setbacks are inevitable. What separates successful leaders from the rest is how they respond to those failures. Failing forward means using setbacks as stepping stones rather than stumbling blocks. Let’s break down how you can shift your mindset and transform failure into a tool for long-term success.
1. Change Your Mindset: Failure is Feedback
One of the biggest mistakes leaders make is seeing failure as a dead end. The truth? Failure is data. It’s feedback telling you what works, what doesn’t, and where to improve.
- Instead of asking, “Why did I fail?” ask, “What did this teach me?”
- Instead of dwelling on mistakes, ask, “How can I apply this lesson moving forward?”
A growth mindset is key here. Research shows that leaders who embrace failure as a learning opportunity build more resilient teams and cultivate innovation. Your mindset sets the tone for your team—when they see you embracing challenges, they’ll be more likely to do the same.
2. Own Your Mistakes: Leadership and Accountability
True leaders take responsibility for setbacks rather than pointing fingers. When something doesn’t go as planned, own it. This not only builds trust with your team but also empowers you to find solutions.
- Be transparent. Acknowledge when things go wrong instead of brushing them under the rug.
- Turn accountability into action. Instead of blaming external factors, focus on what you can control and change.
- Encourage accountability in your team. When failure is seen as a stepping stone rather than a punishment, people become more open to innovation and problem-solving.
Many of the greatest leaders—whether in business, sports, or military history—have faced major failures before achieving success. The difference? They owned their mistakes and kept moving forward.
3. Adapt and Pivot: Flexibility Wins
In leadership, business, and life, things rarely go exactly as planned. The ability to pivot and adapt is what turns failure into future success.
- Assess the situation. What specifically went wrong? What external or internal factors contributed?
- Identify what you can change. Is there a skill gap? A process that needs improvement?
- Take action immediately. Sitting in regret won’t change the outcome, but adjusting your strategy will.
Amazon’s Jeff Bezos once said, “I’ve made billions of dollars of failures at Amazon.” The key? Learning from those failures and making adjustments.
4. Cultivate Resilience: The Power of Persistence
Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back; it’s about bouncing forward. Some of the most successful leaders, athletes, and entrepreneurs have one thing in common: they keep going despite setbacks.
Here’s how you can build resilience:
- Develop mental toughness. Remind yourself that challenges are temporary, but the lessons last forever.
- Surround yourself with the right people. A strong network of mentors, coaches, and peers can help you stay focused and motivated.
- Take care of yourself. Leadership is demanding, and stress is inevitable. Physical wellness, mindfulness, and self-care play a huge role in staying resilient under pressure.
The leaders who rise above failure are the ones who refuse to let it define them. They use it, learn from it, and keep moving forward.
5. Teach Your Team to Fail Forward
Your reaction to failure influences your team more than you think. If they see you handle setbacks with a growth mindset, they’ll follow your lead.
- Encourage calculated risks. Innovation doesn’t come from playing it safe. Give your team room to experiment and make mistakes.
- Reframe failure. Instead of punishment, treat mistakes as learning opportunities. Ask, “What can we take away from this?”
- Celebrate resilience. When someone overcomes a challenge, highlight their perseverance—not just the end result.
Teams that embrace failing forward create a culture of trust, accountability, and long-term success.
The most successful leaders aren’t those who have never failed; they’re the ones who failed, learned, and kept leading.
If you’re navigating a setback, take a step back. What can you learn from this? How can you adjust? What’s the next step forward? Because at the end of the day, leadership isn’t about never falling—it’s about getting back up, stronger and wiser than before. So, what’s your next move?
Ready to turn setbacks into stepping stones for success? Book a call with 5 Eagles Leadership today and let’s develop a plan to move forward, stronger than ever. Book your call now!
