The Three Virtues of Failure

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Leader to Leader – The Three Virtues of Failure

In the Fall 2014 edition of Leader to Leader, Christoph Lueneburger explores how successful organizations “feast on failure” to cultivate the virtues of Energy, Resilience, and Openness, thus attracting people who are engaged, determined, and curious.

The article shares insights from a range of dynamic leaders, including Matthew VanBesien, executive director of the New York Philharmonic; Andy Ruben, the first chief sustainability officer at Walmart; and Jeremy Heimans, founder of the Australian activist group GetUp!, which has engaged more members than all Australian political parties combined.

In the real world, the risk of failure is a prerequisite for success. Organizations that consistently meet failure with a clear-eyed evaluation of what went wrong, why it happened, and how it can be exploited to get better will win.