Renato Agrella is the founder of Acerca Consulting and helps clients leverage marketing and sales initiatives to fuel growth.
In a conversation with my 14-year-old son, we discussed his approach to setting goals. While I emphasized the importance of aiming high, he expressed a different perspective. It became clear that his hesitation stemmed from a fear of falling short. This sparked a realization in me – how do I create systems that support not just success but also the learning that comes from setbacks in business? As someone who's built a few businesses from the ground up, I can tell you one thing for sure: ambitious goals are the fuel that propels an organization forward. They push us beyond our comfort zones, ignite creativity, and keep us laser-focused on achieving something truly remarkable. But here's the secret sauce – aggressive goals need to be paired with a culture that embraces, even celebrates, "supported failure."
Let's face it, aiming high means there's a good chance you won't hit the bullseye every single time. But that shouldn't be a cause for discouragement. In fact, it's an opportunity for immense learning and growth, both for individual employees and the company as a whole.
Here's why setting aggressive goals and fostering a supportive environment for "failing forward" is the winning combination for any business:
Let's be honest, failure is inevitable. But it doesn't have to be a dead end. Here's how to create a culture that uses "supported failure" as a steppingstone to success:
By fostering a culture of aggressive goal setting and supported failure, you're essentially cultivating a growth mindset within your company. This mindset, popularized by psychologist Carol Dweck, believes that intelligence and talent are not fixed traits but rather capabilities that can be developed through hard work and learning.
In a growth mindset environment, employees see setbacks as opportunities to improve, not limitations. They are more likely to embrace challenges, persevere through difficulties, and ultimately achieve greater success.
This powerful combination creates an organization that is constantly learning, adapting, and innovating. Your employees become highly skilled and adaptable, ready to tackle any challenge that comes their way. This translates into a company that is always pushing boundaries, exceeding expectations, and leaving the competition in the dust.