Face Failure: Characteristics of Leaders Who Have Successfully Recovered from Significant Setbacks

The etymology of the word fail is derived from the French word faillir, which means “almost to do.” Faillir is derived from the Latin word fallere, which means to deceive or lead into error. These definitions imply that when people fail, they do not follow through with their intentions, and those who believed that they would be in some way deceived.

People who experience failure can feel a sense of shame. This emotional response can cause them to suppress their feelings, deflect the responsi...