Summer stretches out like a quiet invitation for us to choose things that are good for us. For some of us, it’s the first time in months that we can breathe without a bell schedule. And it brings something else: a space to think. And when we finally get still, do you know what often shows up first?
The mental replays. The “I wish I had…”
- The email you wish you’d sent differently.
- The staff meeting that went off the rails.
- The curriculum rollout lost momentum.
Part 1: The Summer Stretch
Failure has a way of sneaking into our summer reflections, as a quiet question: Did I do enough?
So, if it’s on your mind right now, let’s explore how you might stretch your mindset around failure. Because here’s the truth: Failure is a part of leading.
I'm reminded of baseball as a first-rate analogy for failure. A .300 hitter fails in 7 out of 10 at-bats and is still considered elite. Imagine if we gave ourselves that kind of grace. Imagine if we treated failure as data, not defeat.
Not everything that didn’t work this year was a failure. Not everything that stung was a setback. Some of it was a signpost of a chance to learn. Or a sign you tried something bold.
So, here’s your summer mindset check-in:
👉 What if that “failure” wasn’t a flaw but proof that you’re still growing? What lessons did you learn because of that experience? 👈
Let that stretch your thinking.
Part 2: Three Ways You Can Make Space for You
What if you started looking at failure as a reinvention, a learning experience, or a chance to level up? This summer, instead of avoiding what didn’t go well, lean into it. Here’s how:
1. Name the "At-Bats"
List three things you tried this year that didn’t go as you hoped. No sugarcoating. This isn’t about judgment; it’s about seeing your effort.
Ask yourself:
- What was I hoping for?
- What did I learn anyway?
That reflection is a powerful learning tool, not a post-mortem blame.
2. Rewrite the Story
Pick one of those experiences and reframe it using this template:
“That didn’t go how I planned, but it showed me ________.”
Example: “That parent meeting didn’t go as I planned, but it showed me where trust needs to be rebuilt.”
You don’t need a perfect year to be an effective leader. You need a learning mindset.
3. Talk About It
Failure kept in silence becomes shame. Shared, it becomes wisdom. Consider making space in your next leadership meeting or check-in to say:
“Here’s something I learned the hard way this year...”
Normalize it. Model it. That’s how psychological safety begins.
Leader Call to Action:
This summer, take a bold swing at your own mindset.
💭 Reflect on the messiest parts of your year
🧠 Reframe the meaning you give those moments
🗣 Speak it out loud with someone you trust
Because failure doesn’t mean you’re behind. It means you’re in it. Growing. Stretching. Leading.
And you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.