1. November, 2012 How to Fail Spectacularly (and what you can learn from it) Michelle Gislason, CompassPoint Maricela Rios-Faust, Human Options Dawn Watkins, Women's Crisis Shelter in Southern Humboldt (WISH)

2. strong field project | 2 Using maestro 1. While viewing these slides, please also use a phone to join the conversation using the unique phone number and PIN emailed to you. 2. Having technical issues? Press 5 - Please be patient. www.strongfieldproject.org

3. strong field project | 3 Using maestro Thank you for joining us! need technical assistance? press ‘5’ on your keypad strong field project www.strongfieldproject.org

4. strong field project | 4 our presenters Michelle Gislason CompassPoint Maricela Rios-Faust Human Options Dawn Watkins Women's Crisis Shelter in Southern Humboldt (WISH) www.strongfieldproject.org strong field project

5. | 5 Objectives Increased awareness of the connection between failure and organizational learning Ability to share a failure story using a storytelling structure Identified strategies for embracing failure and learning from it www.strongfieldproject.org

6. strong field project | 6 Write one word or sentence that describes how you feel about failure www.strongfieldproject.org

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11. strong field project | 11 www.admittingfailure.com www.strongfieldproject.org

12. strong field project | 12 What was the project or event? What were you trying to do? What was the fail/where did it go wrong? What would you do differently next time (or never do again!)? What lessons can be learned? www.strongfieldproject.org Source: thefailcon.com

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14. strong field project | 14 What was the project or event? A bricks and mortar drop-in center to serve a particular community What were you trying to do? Trying to be accessible to a client-base and demonstrate commitment to capacity building in region What was the fail/where did it go wrong? “Drop-in” clientele is not our sweet spot. We confused location with presence. What would you do differently next time (or never do again!)? Go with our gut Focus on impact, not inputs Don’t be fooled by “Free” What lessons can be learned? Assess different strategies Focus rigorously on what impacts we are best poised to achieve (go back to our theory of change) Trust ourselves AND listen to dissenting voices Define the limits of risk-taking and know when to say “When” Once decided, commit to strategy, but be prepared to admit “we were wrong” www.strongfieldproject.org

15. strong field project | 15 What was the project or event? ALICE What were you trying to do? We wanted to streamline our crazy and outdated data collection methods What was the fail/where did it go wrong? NO ONE KNEW HOW TO USE IT NO ONE KNEW THEY DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO USE IT It didn’t get used; it’s still not being used Because NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO USE IT What would you do differently next time (or never do again!)? Utilize the expertise available in the field and call upon colleagues for support. We are too busy Hire consultants if you have to do so What lessons can be learned? If it seems easy, and it keeps being NOT easy, then you may be in over your head Don’t try to cut corners when it comes to your infrastructure; Don’t reinvent the wheel If you give a staff person a project, and they have great difficulty in getting it done, DO NOT SET THEM UP TO FAIL by assuming they will figure it out. You may need to reevaluate, step in and start over www.strongfieldproject.org

16. strong field project | 16 What was the project or event? Sustainability Campaign What were you trying to do? Develop a compelling message that highlighted the need for funding to sustain our programs What was the fail/where did it go wrong? We got caught up with the idea that to raise more money you need to build new programs. Our “sustainability” communication was confusing. Deferring to others when we knew what we needed We committed resources to confirm what we already knew What would you do differently next time (or never do again!)? Engage our program experts and stakeholders in critical conversations. Know when to say when Begin with the end in mind What lessons can be learned? Begin with the end in mind- what is going to get us to a place of high mission impact? Trust ourselves AND be open to new ideas www.strongfieldproject.org

17. strong field project | 17 What was the project or event? What were you trying to do? What was the fail/where did it go wrong? What would you do differently next time (or never do again!)? What lessons can be learned? - Random groups of 4-5; Introduce yourselves and pick a facilitator - 20 minutes of discussion with 4 minute wrap-up warning - Presenter may listen in - Press ‘5’ if you have technical issues www.strongfieldproject.org

18. strong field project | 18 It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default. --J.K. Rowling www.strongfieldproject.org

19. strong field project | 19 Courage allows the successful woman to fail and learn powerful lessons-from the failure- so that in the end, she didn't fail at all -Maya Angelou www.strongfieldproject.org

20. strong field project | 20 When it Happens Don’t overreact Name the failure Take responsibility Turn it into a positive learning event Analyze the how and why behind the failure and put strategies into place to turn it into a learning opportunity Listen and stay curious – what happened and what did you learn? What will be different next time? Don’t treat it as a cause for punishment www.strongfieldproject.org

21. strong field project | 21 All the Time Think experimentally and adjust Create a culture of sharing failures as well as successes Create a “continuous learning and feedback” mind-set Reward risk taking Don’t reward: Making repeated mistakes Failing to acknowledge the problem Failing to take corrective action Protect dissenting voices Define the limits or boundaries of risk-taking and failure As an organization – open yourself up to risk assessment www.strongfieldproject.org

22. strong field project | 22 Design your life to make effective use of failures. Most successful enterprises are built through a process of groping and adaptation, not planning. --David Hartford, “Why Success Always Starts with Failure” www.strongfieldproject.org

23. strong field project | 23 Next Steps Share one thing you are going to do as a result of this webinar www.strongfieldproject.org

24. strong field project | 24 More on Failure Funders Annie E. Casey’s New Futures program Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation James Irvine Foundation William and Flora Hewlett Foundation (Hard Lessons) Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Anthology) Publications Joel Fleishman Bloggers Sean Stannard-Stockton Beth Kanter www.strongfieldproject.org

25. strong field project | 25 The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.

26. strong field project | 26 www.strongfieldproject.org Source: thefailcon.com

27. thank you! Contact info: CompassPoint Nonprofit Services michelleg@compasspoint.org Evaluate this webinar: https://www.research.net/s/FailingSpectacularly