Despite our best technological efforts, no one is immune to the occasional human error. We should all expect to suffer failures and setbacks from time to time, that’s unavoidable. What matters is how we respond.
The most successful IT professionals can reflect on their failures, learn from them, and then move on.
If you’re feeling the sting of a mistake or setback right now, we hope this advice can help you shake it off and get back in the game.
What is the Power of Failing Forward?
Keep your head up
The most successful person you know has overcome more failures than you can imagine.
Steve Jobs was publicly ousted from Apple in 1985 before returning to lead the company’s revitalization 12 years later.
Reid Hoffman’s first social networking platform, SocialNet, was a total failure. His current platform, Linkedin, has 700 million users and counting.
Jack Ma, the co-founder of Alibaba Group, was once rejected from a job at KFC, where literally every other applicant was hired except him (23 out of 24 applicants). Don’t feel bad for him, though. He’s worth an estimated $25.3 billion now.
Keeping a positive amid failures is critical. The best tech managers understand this and subsequently support their direct reports when mistakes happen.
Expect some hiccups along the way
The path to success is fraught with failure. Even more so in the world of technology, where teams are constantly encouraged to iterate and innovate.
Forward-thinking tech companies encourage controlled risk-taking. After all, that’s the essence of innovation. At Technology Partners, we encourage our developer teams to “try, fail, learn, repeat.” By encouraging creativity and exploration, we’ve been able to deliver innovative products that exceed our client’s expectations.
Keep moving forward
If you’ve been in tech a while, chances are you’ve already overcome a lot. Sometimes a small mistake can make an entire project go belly up. Sometimes talented people get laid off, through no fault of their own. Whatever the event, we want to help you keep moving forward.
For the last 30 years, recruiters at Technology Partners have been helping IT professionals take their careers to the next level. We’d love to hear about your career journey, and where you want to go next.
Ready to Start Your Career Search?
To get the conversation started, send us an email at careers@technologypartners.net. We’re excited to meet you.
