I don’t know anyone who likes to fail. We all try our hardest to avoid it, yet it’s inevitable. I was working with a young leader recently who was exercising a new leadership skill for the first time. We talked through details for approaching this new competency, but afterward he came to me discouraged. The outcome was something he labeled a “FAILURE.” He wrestled with self-doubt, battled with his ego, and asked himself a laundry list of self-examination questions. While it didn’t go as he envisioned, he was now asking all the right questions and was eager to learn.
I don’t enjoy watching anyone fail, but I do enjoy being there to help a young leader process his mistakes. You see, failure without a mentor can be disastrous, but failure with a mentor leads to development.
In Acts 13:13). Barnabas’ mentorship undoubtedly paid off because years later, Paul told Timothy, “Send Mark because he is valuable to me.”
I thank God for failure because…
- It gives me the opportunity to authenticate my belief in the leaders I mentor.
- It gives me the opportunity to be there to answer the tough questions
- It gives them the opportunity to demonstrate emotional fortitude.
- It gives them the chance to gain leadership wisdom.
When a young leader under your supervision fails, thank God because you’ll find this to be one of the most opportune times for leadership development. Don’t miss it.