Failing Forward: How One Leader Used ‘Chasing Failure’ to Build a Resilient Team
Meet Marcus, a mid-level manager at a growing software firm. For years, Marcus built a reputation as a dependable, by-the-book leader. He delivered consistent results, met every deadline, and never rocked the boat. But beneath the surface, his team was struggling—burned out, uninspired, and hesitant to bring up bold ideas.
Why?
Because Marcus had unintentionally created a culture where mistakes weren’t tolerated. Every project had to be perfect. Every decision, calculated. As a result, innovation was stifled. Team members stopped experimenting. Productivity remained high, but creativity flatlined.
Wake-Up Call: Playing It Safe Was Playing It Small
The turning point came during a quarterly team survey. An anonymous comment hit Marcus hard:
“We don’t feel safe trying new things. One mistake and it’s like trust is broken.”
That line kept him up at night. Marcus realized he wasn’t just managing tasks—he was managing fear. The perfectionism that once helped him succeed was now holding his team back.
That was his wake-up call.
The Turning Point: Chasing Failure Training
Determined to make a change, Marcus signed up for a leadership development workshop focused on Chasing Failure. The training challenged everything he thought about success.
Key takeaways included:
✅ Failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s a vital part of it.
✅ Great teams fail forward—using setbacks as springboards for growth.
✅ Psychological safety is non-negotiable for innovation.
✅ Your DISC profile can reveal your natural tendencies—and your blind spots.
Through his DISC assessment, Marcus learned he was a high “C” (Conscientious)—analytical, accuracy-focused, and detail-driven. While these strengths made him a great problem-solver, they also led him to avoid uncertainty at all costs.
Once he understood this, everything changed. So, he did the following:
✅ Opened team meetings with the question: “What’s one thing we tried that didn’t work—but taught us something?”
✅ Shared his own failures publicly to model vulnerability
✅ Introduced a “Test, Learn, Repeat” framework for new initiatives
✅ Celebrated effort and experimentation—not just outcomes
✅ Encouraged DISC reflection across the team to build mutual understanding and communication
Slowly but surely, his team’s culture shifted. People started volunteering bold ideas. Feedback became more open. Projects evolved faster—and better.
The Outcome: Innovation Through Resilience
Six months later, Marcus’s team led the company’s most successful product pivot—born from an idea that once failed in beta testing. What changed?
They stopped fearing failure. They embraced it.
Marcus didn’t just become a better leader. He built a resilient team that wasn’t afraid to stretch, stumble, and soar.
Are You Ready to Lead Fearlessly?
Join our Chasing Failure leadership training and learn how to transform setbacks into stepping stones. Build a culture of innovation, trust, and resilience—starting with you.
🎯 Sign up for the next training session
🎯 Book a 1:1 coaching call with our leadership experts
Looking forward to helping you step into your full leadership potential.
Best regards,
Checree Bryant
CEO Actuate Consulting
