S8 Ep6: Handling Public Failure: What to Do When Things Go Wrong in Front of Others

Welcome back to Your Path to Career Success — the podcast that helps you build the skills, confidence, and strategy to thrive in your career.

In this 9-minute episode, I open up about something we all face but rarely talk about — public failure. Whether it’s freezing in a boardroom, sending that dreaded reply-all, or stumbling during a presentation, these moments feel awful because they challenge not just our competence, but our identity.

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What public failure in leadership really means — and why it feels so personal
• How to shift from toxic self-blame to healthy accountability
• Practical tools for staying grounded and credible when things go wrong
• Ways to rebuild trust and reputation without losing yourself in the process

I share real stories — including some of my own — and offer scripts, mental resets, and leadership tools you can use in the moment and after the fact. Because leadership isn’t about perfection — it’s about how we rise when things go sideways.

If you’ve ever walked away from a meeting thinking, “Well… that didn’t go well,” this episode is for you.

I hope this episode reminds you that you are more than your worst moment, and leadership isn’t about getting it right every time — it’s about showing up with courage when things don’t go as planned.

🎯 What Next?

A big thank you for tuning in to Your Path To Career Success – where your ambition meets actionable advice!
🦉 Ready to upgrade your CV or LinkedIn for leadership roles? Book a free discovery call and explore how my Unlock Your Career Potential coaching programme can support your next step.
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🦉 You can book 1-2-1 support with me here: https://calendly.com/thecareerowl
🦉 Follow me on LinkedIn for even more leadership career tips and CV transformation insights.

🧰 Recommended Resources

Here are a few resources I mentioned (or were inspired by this episode) to help you deepen your reflection and resilience:

📚 Books & Articles

• "Dare to Lead" by Brené Brown – A masterclass in leading with courage, vulnerability, and integrity.
• "The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership" by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman & Kaley Warner Klemp – Brilliant for shifting out of blame and into ownership.
• "Man’s Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl – For finding power in pause and purpose during difficult moments.

📝 Tools You Can Use

• The Reset Framework
   
  1. Pause
•  
  1. Process
•  
  1. Plan
      (Great for responding to difficult moments with clarity and calm.)
•  
• “Lessons from Hard Days” Journal Prompts
  Reflect on:
  • What did I learn?
  • What surprised me about myself?
  • What would I say to a friend in my shoes?
• The Bounce-Back Bank
  Keep a folder of kind words, praise, and wins. Visit it when your inner critic gets loud.

I would love to know what you think of the episode