Leveraging every wrong to make a right - the art of failure

I was at the Kolkata airport this Wednesday, waiting to board my flight back home - and while the usual hustle and bustle continued, there was a differentiated sense of anticipation all around. Almost everyone was glued to either their devices or the TV screens, carefully following our nation’s third lunar exploration mission. And at 6:04 pm IST, we witnessed a moment in history as the team at ISRO successfully touched ground on the dark side of the moon. This mission, like the two before, was fueled by ambition, expertise, and dedication - but as they say, third time’s a charm.?

While we celebrate Chandrayaan 3’s landing, it is important to remember that this is as much a celebration of Chandrayaan 1 and 2 as well. This is not a story of leaping to success, but a story of building resilience and finding learnings in the face of challenge - a lesson on the importance of trying despite the risk of failing, learning and trying again. Failing is in itself not a failure, not trying at all is. ISRO has showcased first hand the power of trying and the value additions that can emerge from every attempt.?

This took me back to a very interesting question one of our people raised during a staff townhall - an event where we generally share our successes and celebrate our wins - “Why do we not talk about our failures as well?”. A crucial lesson that resonates not only in the realm of space exploration but also in the corridors of business and leadership is that failure is not the end, but a means to an end - a stepping stone towards pushing boundaries and bridging the gap between what we know and what we don’t - failure is very simply an opportunity to learn.?

We are operating in an age of anxiety, uncertainty and constant disruption and we live and breathe a culture where seamless success is the ultimate goal and failure is not an option. But that would mean innovation isn’t either. It is crucial to build a culture that not just tolerates failure but encourages it. When it comes to the art of failing, here are three points I think would be important to access the treasure trove of insights and opportunities.?

• Don’t ask “who did it?” but instead “what happened?”

The first step towards building an encouraging and innovative culture? is moving away from the “blame game” and inculcating a strong sense of collective responsibility. Simultaneously, failure forces us to re-evaluate our strategies, identify weaknesses, and explore alternative paths. It is paramount to run a post-mortem of sorts with any failure - to dissect the intricacies and understand the areas where correction is needed.

• Don’t ask “why?” but instead “why not?”

When venturing into uncharted territories, asking "why not?" opens doors to innovation and progress. It challenges limitations and sparks curiosity, encouraging us to explore the realms beyond convention. It's a growth mindset that defies complacency and propels us toward endless possibilities.

• Don’t accept defeat but instead rise above

When the original plan doesn't yield the desired results, ingenuity sparks new ideas. A failed attempt should not result in throwing in the towel but spur evolution after each setback - innovate, transform and find breakthrough solutions. The commitment to try again underscores the spirit of perseverance.?

The only mistake with failures is thinking about it the wrong way. As we honour and celebrate the spirit of Chandrayaan - we appreciate the journey as well and remember that every setback is not a scar, but a badge of experience.?