The most resilient people aren’t the ones who never make mistakes. They’re the ones who mess up, bounce back, and grow. So-called “successful” people? They’ve usually experienced failure many times, but have learned how to recover, reflect, and do things differently next time.

And yet, so many of us still fear it. Maybe it’s how we were raised, or the way failure was treated at school. Or maybe it’s our working culture where mistakes are named and shamed, and perfection is prized above learning.

There’s actually a psychological reason we’re wired to avoid failure. Nobel Prize-winning psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky found that the pain of a loss hits us twice as hard as the joy of a win. So, when we try to avoid it at all costs? That’s just human nature doing its thing.

But here’s the thing, failure isn’t just inevitable, it’s valuable. In fact, it might be one of the best tools we have for building a growth mindset, boosting resilience, and creating psychologically safe workplaces.

Here are six reasons why we should stop fearing failure and start embracing it.

1. Failure fuels innovation

As Jeff Bezos once said:

“Failure comes part and parcel with invention. It’s not optional. We understand that and believe in failing early and iterating until we get it right.”

No bold new ideas come from staying in the comfort zone. Trial and error, emphasis on the error is often where the good stuff starts.

2. Failure makes us better

According to BBC Radio 4 presenter Sarah Montague:

“If you’re capable of banking experience and using it next time to make it better, it’s an experience worth having.”

That’s exactly what learning and development should do. And it’s why the best resilience training helps people reframe failure as feedback, not final judgment.

3. Failure reveals our potential

Yes, it’s uncomfortable. But failure often helps us discover what we’re really capable of. As J.K. Rowling puts it:

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case, you fail by default.”Oof. Let that one sink in.

4. Failure transforms us

Elizabeth Day, host of How to Fail, puts it beautifully:

“The most transformative moments of my life came through crisis or failure.”

Sometimes when things don’t work out it isn’t just a lesson, It pushes us toward something more aligned, more meaningful, or just plain better.

5. Failure gives us a second chance

Yes, really. When something doesn’t work out, it gives us space to re-evaluate. To adjust our approach. To return with more knowledge, more clarity, and a sharper sense of purpose. Failure isn’t the opposite of success, it’s often the thing that gets us there.

6. Failure brings us closer

Here’s something we don’t talk about enough: failure allows us to be vulnerable. And vulnerability? It’s the root of real connection. When we admit we’re imperfect, and invite others to do the same, we create trust, compassion, and deeper relationships. That’s the foundation of psychological safety in the workplace.

So maybe it’s time to stop hiding from our mistakes. Maybe we need to teach ourselves, and our teams, that failure is part of growth. It’s part of learning. It’s part of life.

And next time you mess up? Count yourself lucky. You’re learning. You’re growing. You’re doing it right.

At Understood, we specialise in leadership development, workplace culture, and team performance training. If you want to build a high-performing, psychologically safe workplace, our bespoke training programmes can help your leaders and teams develop the skills to thrive in today’s workplace.

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