Uncomfortable, inevitable, and universal. Failure is such a peculiar word. It’s the stuff our fears and nightmares are made of. And while it’s a concept we easily recognize and understand, it’s also relative.

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For some people, it's a terrible, epic failure. But for others, it's a chance to start over. Some people take failure seriously, while others take it in stride. Some people fear it too much, others not so much.

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In this article, we describe the main topics covered in our online course on Fear of Failure, as well as the situations in which this course is not recommended for your organization.

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What is failure?

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Failure is relative because it is a concept accepted and agreed upon by society. It varies depending on culture, personal experiences, and identities.

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Failure is a form of grief that causes psychological distress because it represents the loss of a project, a dream, or an expectation.

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Within the definition of grief, we find that it does not refer solely to the loss of family members or relatives, but can also be experienced when something is abruptly and irrevocably cut short. Grief is also the process of confronting and adapting to a situation that differs from what we expected. We also grieve for things that will never be or that we never had. 

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In addition to this grief, failure and fear can make us feel that nothing is possible and distort our sense of our own abilities. It is essential that, regardless of how we define failure, we strip it of its negative connotations and redefine what it means to us.

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Failure does not define us as human beings. They are external actions or events that have nothing to do with our dignity or worth.

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Why are we afraid of failing?

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As uncomfortable as it may be, fear is useful and natural; however, some fears harm us rather than protect us.

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As we grow older, we come to realize that some fears are a social construct. There are fears that stem from what our mother taught us, what our father taught us, or what a teacher taught us. Failure is a highly subjective concept, and what we fear is not necessarily the moment of failure itself, but the consequences and the stigma. 

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If you’re afraid of failure because you see it as something negative, you may run away from the situation, and sometimes you won’t dare to take action or look for a better solution because you’ll want to avoid the possibility of failing, instead of enjoying the process of trying and seeing what happens. 

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Out of fear, we become paralyzed and don’t try anything new, or we start to view people or situations as potential threats. 

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Shame, guilt, and failure

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Our mistakes don’t define us, and the steps we take to make amends say more about who we are than our failures. Therefore, in this online course on the Fear of Failure, we clarify the difference between shame—which is composed of other emotions such as fear and is shaped by society’s expectations—and guilt—which is felt when we recognize that we’ve done something wrong.

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We also explore the concept of self-forgiveness after failing and how to achieve it, simply because compassion toward ourselves is key to learning from our mistakes.

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Failure and Gender

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The online course on Fear of Failure, like all our courses, is designed with a gender perspective in mind. From childhood onward, gender roles tend to be more lenient toward men than toward women, which increases the fear of failure among women.

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Impostor Syndrome primarily affects women. It causes people to downplay their personal and professional achievements, leading them to believe that their success is merely a matter of luck. Suffering from this syndrome is not the fault of those who experience it, but a sign that the capitalist and patriarchal system in which we live has historically been unequal and needs to be changed.

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On the other hand, the Queen Bee Syndrome—which denies gender inequalities—is found among women in C-suite positions, who make up only 3% of the total. This is a symptom of a system designed to perpetuate inequality. If you want to learn more about this syndrome and how to prevent it in your organization, this course is for you.

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From taboo to catharsis

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When we fail or find ourselves in a situation that stirs up strong emotions, we’re expected to snap out of it, bounce back quickly, and look forward to moving on.

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However, during this process, we often forget how to manage our emotions. We are so focused on getting back on our feet and pretending that nothing has happened that these emotions are suppressed and cause psychological distress.

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In this module of the online course on Fear of Failure, we will explore the importance of catharsis when we are facing emotional challenges, and how to find our own catharsis to overcome failure.

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Practical and flexible content

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Not only will you learn all of the above in simple 10-minute lectures, but you’ll also gain insight through short videos and a final exercise that will allow you to apply your knowledge and quickly assess how failure is handled within your team.

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In what situations is the "Fear of Failure" online course not right for you?

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• You're looking for a quick solution

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We are offering this online course as the first in a series of five:

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• Fear of Failure
• Psychological safety and vulnerability
• Failure management
• Communication and difficult conversations
• Innovation

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The "Fear of Failure" online course should be the first one because it addresses a fundamental topic: the origin of this fear. This means that it is only the first step toward building a culture of failure based on initiatives that aim to achieve tangible results in the short, medium, and long term. 

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These results relate to productivity metrics, talent retention, employee well-being, as well as employee engagement and commitment, and employee turnover.

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However, like all our online courses, we address sensitive topics here. This brings us to another situation where this online course might not be the best fit for your company: 

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• The emotional side of work life is not given much attention in your organization

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Talking about our feelings or the things we’re afraid of can lead to rejection, and people may choose may to open up during group activities. 

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Creating this space is the first step toward bringing about a cultural shift in your organization. A safe space where people have complete freedom to propose ideas, test them, fail, and share them—all without fear, shame, or guilt. This will benefit the company and lead to happier, more productive employees in the workplace. 

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In conclusion …

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The "Fear of Failure" online course is also part of The Failure Program, our data-driven and solution-oriented suite of services for organizations that want to harness the power of failure by embracing the vulnerability, authenticity, and freedom that come from accepting something as natural and human as fear. 

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If you're unsure which course is the best fit for your company, we're here to help. Simply fill out this form to receive a customized proposal and find out which of our online courses can help improve your organizational culture.