Feel the Pain of Failure
"When you fail, you've got to own it, feel the pain." In my personal life and relationships, I'm trying to become more aware of when I screw up and to be more capable of admitting when I am wrong. I think this is important in any personal relationship. So why would a business relationship be any different? The "We F*cked Up" panel at SXSW Interactive brought this point to light. Tracey Halverson, Greg Hoy, Wil Reynolds, and Greg Storey joined this panel subtitled "Exploring Failure, Together. A discussion with Happy Cog and Friends."
What is failure? Each of the panelists had their own definition, but Greg Storey's definition resonated with me most: Failure is... "when two or more parties do not communicate clearly, make assumptions, and in doing so, set false expectations of one another and the work created." When I look back at projects I considered as "failures," it really was a failure to communicate clearly and effectively.
To me, the main point of the panel discussion was being honest and open with clients when failure occurs. Would lying, covering-up, blaming, bitching, etc. be useful in any relationship? The panel mentioned, "Don't be a victim. Nothing ever good comes from bitching about the client." In reality, a project rarely goes exactly the way we want it to. It's all about communication, setting expectations from the start and as we go along. It's all about the relationship. It's the "we're in this together" mentality.
Wil Reynolds made a good point: "Tell the client if you're not happy about where things are going or have gone, before they tell you." Basically, quit trying to act like you are "perfect" and the project is "perfect." Communicate concerns when they arise.
The point that the panel wanted the audience to leave with was, "You need failure more than you need success." Tracey Halverson noted that "Failure breeds change. Success breeds repetition." I completely agree. It's all about improving. Being open, honest, sucking down our pride, and doing the best possible job we can.
