Innovation Technique: Leverage the Power of “Spectacular Failure”

Failure, in general, is not a good thing. It is usually uncomfortable, painful, and the exact opposite of what we wanted.

However, failure can be your “success secret weapon.” Especially when it’s not just basic failure, but rather when it’s Spectacular Failure!.

“Spectacular Failure”? That sounds even worse than regular failure, doesn’t it?

Maybe. But only if you look at it the wrong way.

In the context I am speaking of (lessons pulled from improvisation and used to improve innovation and adaptability), Spectacular Failure is not about betting the farm, losing your shirt, being stupid, or destroying your business.

(So if you’re a current or prospective speaking or training client, rest easy…)

No. In this context, Spectacular Failure is a mindset; it is about taking bold action and, if and when you fail, doing so in a way that helps, not hinders, your progress. Often when we decide on a course of action we move tentatively in order to protect us from feeling badly about failing. To leverage the power of Spectacular Failure you need to do the opposite:

When you decide on a course of action, attack it with the non-rigid gusto of someone not afraid to fail.

When you decide on a course of action, attack it with the non-rigid gusto of someone not afraid to fail.

Here are the whys and hows of spectacular failure:

Why

• Speed – Taking strong action and seeing what happens accelerates your progress. You can have countless strategy sessions and try to figure it all out in advance, but one small market test will give you more accurate feedback in a much shorter period of time.
• Adaptability – By taking small but bold steps and adjusting as you go (more on this below) you adapt to the situation. This allows you constantly improve while adapting to changing conditions.
• Innovation – Innovation starts in the mind, but it comes to life in the real world. By acting, failing, adjusting, and repeating, you make it far easier to create something new.

How

To see how to leverage the power of spectacular failure, let’s break the mindset definition down into its component parts:

“When you decide on a course of action…”

• Create Options – Deciding on a course of action means you have a variety of options to choose from. This requires letting go of pre-conceived thoughts, accessing your creativity, and approaching your situation and team with a “yes, and” mindset (For more info on this, use the from in right column of this page to sign-up for the free “How to Think Quick” MP3).
• Understand Risk  – As stated above, this is not about taking stupid and unnecessary risk. For each option, be aware of the pros and cons of taking action as well as the chances of the action paying off. Be honest – don’t be overly optimistic about the likelihood of success, but also don’t be nothing but “doom and gloom” about the possibility of failure.
• Decide on an Option  – Once you have a variety of options and understand the risk related to them, you must select one to act on. This is where many people fall short. They refuse to act without 100% certainty of which option is best. In life however, 100% certainty is rare. Make your best guess and commit to it (at least in the short term; more on this below).

“…attack it with the Non-Rigid Gusto…”

• Act! – Deciding on a course of action is great, but in and of itself it is worthless. You must then do something. I have lost count of the number of people I have come across who made a decision but then never got around to acting on it. Yes, acting is scary and you may fail. But that’s the point of this article…
• Take a Bold Step – Acting with “gusto” means taking a bold, not tentative, step. Don’t fool yourself; it’s easy to take tiny actions that give the appearance of action but don’t actually accomplish anything. Business tip: If it doesn’t involve a customer or the market, it’s probably not a bold step. Personal tip: if it doesn’t involve you physically or verbally doing something, it’s probably not a bold step (i.e. for both of these brainstorming or “kicking around ideas” is not a bold step).
• Analyze and adjust – The “non-rigid” piece simple means that you don’t stay chained to an idea. You take your bold action, see what happens, analyze the results, make necessary adjustments, and then act again. This is the tremendous power of Spectacular Failure. It’s not in the failing; it’s in what you learn and how you adjust based on the failure.

“…of someone not afraid to fail.”

• Fear of failure makes you more likely to fail – Failure is bad. But the fear of failure does nothing but cut you off from your creative resources and tighten you up. Ironically, being afraid to fail makes you more, not less, likely to fail.
• What would you do if knew you could not fail? – This is a stock motivational question, and one I kind of hate, usually because it is used as a way to get people to tap into their deep desires and then say to them, “now go do that!” Bah. Failure is real and has consequences. I like this question, however, once you have committed to a course of action. Once you know what your bold step is, then implement it with the confidence of someone not afraid to fail. Don’t step half-heartedly. If you’re going to do a market test, give it 100%. If you are going to start a conversation with someone you don’t know, approach it as if you know it will go splendidly.

To improve your (and your team’s) ability to improvise, adapt, and innovate, leverage the power of Spectacular Failure. It may seem scary, but it can transform your progress and results.

To bring the power of Spectacular Failure (along with improvisation, adaptability, and innovation) to your team, department, and organization, contact Avish now!