How to Fail "Good*": Why Perfectionism Is the Real Leadership Failure

Reclaiming failure as growth, wisdom, and agency

*Yes, I am highly aware that this is not formal grammar... get over it and focus on the message! (lol)

Let me tell you about the promotion I didn't get. Me, the overachiever… the person who seems to always “win”.

I was devastated. Convinced it meant I all of a sudden, wasn't good enough. Spent weeks replaying every mistake I'd made, every moment I should have done better.

Then six months later, I landed a role that was exponentially better: I was hired as the CEO of an influential policy organization. But I almost did not pursue that CEO role because of the recent failure with the promotion. I almost let a previous failure paralyze my forward progress!

I eventually realized: the failure wasn't the problem. My relationship with it was.

Here's what nobody tells women in leadership: Your fear of failure is costing you more than any actual failure ever could.

You're playing small to stay safe. Declining opportunities to avoid mistakes. Overworking yourself to be beyond reproach. Staying silent when you should speak up.

All because you've been taught that failure—for you—isn't an option.

But here's the truth: Learning to fail good is the most liberating skill you'll ever develop as a leader.

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