What do you do if your colleagues and students are afraid of failure?

Failure is often scary since the people around us make it seem so. Of course, we do not want to fail at something but there is also the added pressure of what others will think if we fail. I think the conversation around failure should change - people should openly discuss their failures since failure is the best teacher. Instead of being afraid of failing, we should consider it as a lesson learnt. If people change the way failure is perceived we would definitely see more people taking action since there are only two possible outcomes - success or learning.

To create a supportive environment and address the fear of failure among colleagues and students, here are some effective strategies: 1. Normalize failure 2. Promote a growth mindset 3. Provide constructive feedback 4. Set realistic expectations 5. Celebrate effort and progress 6. Create a supportive community 7. Teach resilience skills 8. Lead by example By taking these proactive steps, you can empower your colleagues and students to overcome their fears, take risks, and reach their full potential.

I believe failure is a must and it is an inseparable part of learning. There is an expression I always have in mind in my class that goes "No fail, no gain." From the teacher's point of view, failures help you realize what is going on with your learners and what weak areas you need to help them improve. As a teacher, I do not pretend to be a know-it-all (none of us are but some pretend). I always share stories of my failures, the vital mistakes I made, and the misunderstandings I experienced and still do with them.

Normalizing failure has been a transformative journey in my teaching career. I've learned that openly discussing my own failures and setbacks with colleagues and students helps create an environment where everyone feels more comfortable taking risks and learning from their mistakes. By sharing stories of successful individuals who have faced failure, I've been able to illustrate that setbacks are not roadblocks but opportunities for growth. This approach has not only reduced the fear associated with making mistakes but has also fostered a culture of resilience and continuous learning in my classroom.

Emphasizing the value of the learning process over the final outcome has been instrumental in reassuring them that failure is a natural part of growth. By creating a safe space for experimentation, I've witnessed firsthand how individuals gain confidence in their abilities to tackle challenges head-on and embrace opportunities for innovation and personal development.

I tend to find a silver lining in all kinds of failures my students experience. It may sound peculiar, but there is always something in a mistake or a failure that, when addressed, can lead to brilliant results in the learning process. I even go one step further and encourage failure in my classes.

El miedo al fracaso es algo que puede tener lugar, a menudo, en cualquier actividad que nos propongamos realizar. No te preocupes, es normal sentir miedo al principio. Para ganar seguridad y minimizar el miedo, establece objetivos S.M.A.R.T. (peque?os objetivos que te acerquen a ese gran objetivo principal). La consecución de estos peque?os logros te daran confianza para seguir progresando.

Debemos ocupar un cambio de palabra ( Fracaso) por Aprendizaje, sin duda tod@s debemos tener aprendizajes de tal forma , que crecemos en el trabajo y en nuestras vidas

-Define your mindset; its your ultimate competitive advantage! -Give & receive 360-degree feedback, it's key! -Be SMART (i.e. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound) in terms of your goals' placement; they marginalize errors! -Never equate experiences; you've your own story to draft & remember, no one posts about their failures! -Create a supportive milieu; we learn from each other’s faux pas! -Motivation generates from within; don’t wait for external motivation! -It's NOT OK NOT TO FAIL (yes read it again)! To err is human! Only those who don’t work aren’t subjected to failure! So normalize it & learn from it! -Cherish failures, they’re your best ally! Remember, No Risk, No Story! Fail, Trailblaze, Communicate & Lead???