Webinar – The Art of Failing: How to Fail Well

Presenter Dr. Maria Ahmad explores the psychological and professional impact of failure, particularly within the demanding field of healthcare. The session reframes the concept of failure as an inevitable and valuable “setback”—a crucial component of learning, growth, and long-term success.

Session Highlights

Four Key Shifts in Perspective:

1. Self-Worth vs. Mistakes: Drawing on Carol Dweck’s work, the webinar contrasts the “fixed mindset” (failure is the limit of ability) with the “growth mindset” (failure is an opportunity to grow).
2. Setbacks as Ingredients for Success: Examples of highly successful individuals like J.K. Rowling, Walt Disney, and Steve Jobs are used to illustrate how significant failures were pivotal steps in their journeys.
3. Setbacks Create Opportunities: Maria shares a personal story of not getting a desired leadership role, which then opened the door to another opportunity that ultimately led to co-authoring a book on leadership.
4. Learning from Mistakes Early: The importance of making and learning from mistakes as a student in a supervised environment is emphasized as a way to prevent more critical errors later as a qualified professional.

The Setback Cycle: 

Maria shares a practical, six-step framework for turning a setback into a comeback

1. Rest & Recharge: Take time to decompress and step away from the situation.
2. Reflect: Analyze what went well, what didn’t, and what can be learned.
3. Reconnect: Reach out to a support system or “tribe” for help and perspective.
4. Re-plan or Pivot: Create a new plan of action or decide to move in a different direction.
5. Recover & Re-enter: Apply the lessons learned and try again with more intelligence and experience.
6. Grit: The cycle is fueled by grit—the passion and perseverance to pursue long-term goals despite repeated setbacks.

If you enjoyed the webinar, checkout the book!