STOP FAILING FORWARD. GET RIDICULOUS INSTEAD
Kathy Klotz-Guest

STOP FAILING FORWARD. GET RIDICULOUS INSTEAD

Ridiculous is everything.


It took me years to embody that.


It's a creative superpower you and most teams have AND sadly don't express. It comes from being supported.

There’s freedom in big-a$s?ridonculous ideas.

When we are free to be ridiculous - that's where the GREAT ideas are. If they're not sharing....the problem is leadership, trust, culture.


What gets in the way?


We say ‘fail fast’ a lot. It’s true. AND ALSO FALSE.

We say 'be innovative.' And never tell people what that means or make it safe to fail. Bad ridiculous. Talk about mixed messages!


When Leaders Say "Go Innovate..."


Cultures say it and don't create the space to do it. Where is the failure net?

Telling people to fail won’t work. As a woman who led teams in tech, failure wasn't an option for me. Me trying to sell my boss 'hey, I'm just failing forward!' wasn't a THING.

I'll never tell people to not feel weird about ‘failure’; it’s loaded with experiences.


WHAT CAN WE DO? NORMALIZE IT


  • STOP telling people to fail with no context, conversation or cover.


  • Start with you and your team: practice owning mistakes, laughing at them and reframing them in low-risk situations. Celebrate IMPERFECT. PLAY.


  • Make it part of their job to be ridiculous. Be clear about boundaries. Yes, keep the important stuff.


  • Carve out space and reward the ridiculous thinking. You don't have to CREATE those ideas. Let's reinforce a different way of thinking that gets better results than the status quo. YUP - like a comedy team.


Me? I learned to find fun, growth and human connection in the imperfect stuff. Perfect isn’t innovative or fun. You’ll never screw up and grow.


FORGET FAIL: BOLD is DOUBLING DOWN on IMPERFECT


Focus on owning and celebrating imperfection.


Mistakes are learning. Own our imperfection and mistakes and we own our growth.


Bold isn’t not being awkward.


Bold is going ALL IN ON IT! Embrace imperfect and you’ll laugh, take down fear, and connect with others on their awkward, ridiculous selves. That where human connection and the good stuff live.


It's where humans shine.



Michele Price

Join my 5-Week Decision-Making Quest | Emotions are data for better decisions | Transformational Leadership + Communication Advisor | Dyslexic Thinking | Integrating Indigenous Wisdom Unlocking Authentic Leadership

1 个月

If I had a dollar every startup advisor that gave out this trite and irresponsible advice, I’d give Bill Gates (another problematic rich man - another story - another day) a run for his money. It reminds me why all segments in business benefit from women and minds like yours Kathy, Sally Hogshead, and yes, even mine. Women have held the scepter of creative genius since the beginning of time. Imagine having leadership and teams representing the community that the business operates in? Maybe then we’d have advisors with better communication and empathetic leadership skills.

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Robert Berry

I help auditors become awesome | Audit Trainer & Keynote Speaker | 2023 Internal Audit Beacon award recipient

1 个月

Two thumbs up for imperfect play

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Elisa Calosso, PHR

????♀? On a Mission: Transforming from burnout to burning desire | Feel better in minutes | Emotional Intelligence & Nervous System Regulation | Speaker and Podcast Host | ? Release Stress instantly and Prevent Burnout

1 个月

Great perspective Kathy "Fail forward" can feel like a catchy phrase, but without the right mindset and support, it’s often easier said than done. Learning from failure takes real resilience, strategy, and a safe space to take risks.

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Maxine Shapiro

Dynamic facilitator, keynote speaker, coach. CEXpert: precisely how to inspire, teach, and give an Audacious, Surprising, and Rave-About Customer and Employee Experience.

1 个月

Wonderful Kathy Klotz-Guest MA, MBA! Is "failing" really a thing?! Maybe in academia where testing is... In business, we make mistakes, and your take on them is perfect!!! I can't wait to read the newsletter!

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Marina Erulkar

For funded start-ups to mid-sized company executives, I quickly turn stalled or declining revenue into steady, profitable growth.

1 个月

Absolutely love (and occasionally live) this perspective, Kathy!

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