Why ‘Face-Planting’ is Part of the Process

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Let’s get real: no one likes to fail. No one likes to fall flat on their face (literally or figuratively). But sometimes, that’s exactly what happens. And in leadership? How you get back up matters a lot more than the fall itself.

Here’s a quick story from when I was 8 that taught me this lesson early on.

The Time I Fell on My Face

Picture 8-year-old me, ready for my first serious ballet performance at a fancy ballet school. The spotlight is on, the audience is silent, and… I trip. Big time. 

Yep, I fall flat on my face in front of EVERYONE.

For a second, I just lay there, cheeks burning, hoping the floor would open up and swallow me whole.

But instead of crying (though I really wanted to), I got back up. I smiled. And I finished the performance, heart pounding the entire time.

Was the performance perfect? Absolutely not.

Was it a graceful moment? Hah, not even close.

But here’s the thing: I got back up and kept going. And that’s what mattered.

Afterward, the ballet directors didn’t comment on the fall. They commented on how I handled the fall.

How I didn’t quit. How I finished strong.

And that’s the lesson: It’s not about the fall—it’s about how you get back up.

Dr. Emily’s Story: The Power of Recovery in Leadership

I was reminded of this recently when I spoke with my client, 'Dr. Emily', a healthcare executive who had poured herself into a new, groundbreaking initiative to improve patient care.

This wasn’t just another project—it was her chance to make a real impact, and she’d invested every ounce of energy, countless hours, and her team’s full resources into it.

But when the initiative launched, it didn’t soar. Instead, it crashed, and it crashed hard.

The feedback was harsh, the board was disappointed, and her team felt drained and uncertain about what was next.  Dr. Emily herself felt exposed, like she’d taken a literal public fall.

The initial urge to retreat, lick her wounds, and recover solo was overwhelming. 

But she knew hiding wouldn’t change anything.

So instead, she did something that felt even harder than launching the project itself: she gathered her team, faced them with humility, and admitted, “We missed the mark.”

She didn’t stop there.

She asked each team member for their raw, unfiltered thoughts. What went wrong? How could they pivot?

This wasn’t just a debrief—it was a powerful moment of truth, and her willingness to own it inspired everyone around her.

And you know what happened? Her team rallied, offering ideas she hadn’t considered, and they redesigned the initiative from the ground up.

What began as a humbling failure became the foundation of something better—a program that now impacts patients daily.

For Dr. Emily, that day became a reminder: real leadership isn’t about never falling. It’s about facing the fall, owning it, and having the courage to rise in partnership with others.

The Lesson: Bold Leadership Means Owning the Fall and Rising with Intention

Both my stumble on stage and Dr. Emily’s project setback show that bold leadership isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about what we do when inevitably things go wrong.

In both cases, the impact didn’t come from the initial fall but from choosing how to get back up.

For me, getting back on my feet and finishing the performance earned respect from my ballet directors, despite the mishap.

For Dr. Emily, her willingness to face her team, admit the shortcomings, and seek their ideas didn’t just redeem the project—it strengthened her team’s trust and resilience.

True boldness isn’t about perfection; it’s about recognizing that we have a choice in how we respond. The real power of leadership lies in choosing to rise thoughtfully and bringing others along on that journey.

Your Bold Challenge 

Have you recently “fallen” in some way? Maybe something didn’t go as planned, or maybe you made a mistake.

This week, focus on how you’ll get back up. What’s the next step forward, and how can you use this experience to grow?

Hit REPLY and let me know how your bold recovery is going—I’m here for it!

Here for you,

Eva Minkoff

BoldBeing.co

P.S. If you’re more of a LinkedIn person, no worries. Follow me on LinkedIn here to keep up with these stories and challenges.