Skip to content

​Redefining Failure: 4 Steps to Failing Forward

Fear of failure is often the toughest hurdle to jump in leadership. In this episode, John Maxwell, Mark Cole, and Richard Chancy flip the idea of failure on its head.

Rather than allowing failure to slow down progress or even prevent us from starting in the first place, leaders can use the power of failure to “fail forward.” In this episode, you’ll learn four steps to fail forward.

Failure, as Richard points out, is the first step in starting a business. It’s the first step is starting most things. The people you lead are counting on your ability to turn failure into resilience, and it’s a requirement for your growth as a leader.

Our BONUS resource for this episode is the Redefining Failure Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John’s teaching. You can download the worksheet by clicking “Download the Bonus Resource” below.

References:

Failing Forward  by John C. Maxwell

Developing the Leader Within You 2.0  by John C. Maxwell

Leadershift by John C. Maxwell

The John Maxwell Online Store

Be the first to comment on "​Redefining Failure: 4 Steps to Failing Forward"

Leave a Reply

Latest Episodes

Are You Leading a Good Life or Just Maintaining a Good Image?

Are You Leading a Good Life or Just Maintaining a Good Image?

Maxwell Leadership July 29, 2026

Are you leading a life of real impact, or just working hard to perfect your image? In this week’s episode, John Maxwell teaches how embracing authenticity over appearance is a central pillar for meaningful leadership and lasting success.  After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Robinson share practical strategies to help you bring authenticity to the forefront of your leadership—on…

Listen Now »
Good Leaders Make Friends, Not Fans

Good Leaders Make Friends, Not Fans

Maxwell Leadership July 22, 2026

Are you letting your success create distance between you and your team? In this episode, John Maxwell unpacks why leadership success can easily lead to isolation—and what you can do to resist it. Discover how making friends (not just fans) helps you stay relatable, authentic, and influential.  After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Goede dive into real-life strategies to help you put connection…

Listen Now »
How to Stabilize Your Success

How to Stabilize Your Success

Maxwell Leadership July 15, 2026

How do you keep your success from becoming the very thing that sabotages your leadership? In this week’s episode, John Maxwell reveals the overlooked practices that stabilize lasting achievement and keep leaders grounded at every stage of their journey.  After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Robinson share real-world strategies and thoughtful application to help you translate John’s insights into leadership habits…

Listen Now »

Find An Episode

Search the Maxwell Leadership Podcast Network for the episode you’re looking for!

Filter Results
Podcast
Maxwell Leadership Podcast