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The Vash Young quote “Any experience can be transformed into something of value” should hold special meaning for new leaders. After all, you will definitely experience your ups and downs as you manage the challenges of being a leader, and it can be easy to lose sight of the value of your experiences, especially when times are difficult or painful.

As a leader, you must keep your own doubt and worry in check, but you also most inspire your employees to see past the challenges and learn from even seemingly big failures. As a leader, you have the power to:

  • Provide employees with perspective.
  • Help people to see the big picture.
  • Offer coaching and mentoring so that people truly learn from their experiences, no matter how bad.

Of course to do those things, you need to model the behaviors yourself, and set the example for your employees. You must:

  • Value all available learning opportunities, even when your team falls short of expectations.
  • Search for the lessons in all your experiences–and then apply them to your work.
  • Seek out the executive coaching and mentoring you need to provide you with perspective that is worthy of sharing with others.
  • Have an open mind, be willing to task risk and see failure as a way to grow.

In fact, it takes an overall change in mindset, and that transformation takes time and effort. I strongly urge you, from this day forward, to take time to reflect on your experiences, especially those you don’t feel you have gained anything from. Look for the value of that experience, and search for lessons that can help you become a better leader, employee and person. You will grow as a person, and you will encourage similar behaviors among your staff.

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Kevin Eikenberry is a recognized world expert on leadership development and learning and is the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group. He has spent over 30 years helping organizations across North America, and leaders from around the world, on leadership, learning, teams and teamwork, communication and more.

Twice he has been named by Inc.com as one of the Top 100 Leadership and Management Experts in the World and 100 Great Leadership Speakers for Your Next Conference. The American Management Association named him a “Leaders to Watch” and he has been twice named as one of the World's Top 30 Leadership Professionals by Global Gurus. Top Sales World has named him a Top Sales & Marketing Influencer several times, and his blog has been named on many “best of” lists. LeadersHum has named him one of the 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership in 2023.

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