What is Failing Upwards?

Failing upwards is when a series of failures is good for an individual's career. It is associated with individuals who talk about their failures openly and proudly as learning experiences. The term can also apply more generally to the tendency for risk takers to succeed due to their overall visibility in an organization and industry despite failures.

Countersignaling

Talking openly about one's failures is a type of countersignaling that may be interpreted as a strength.

Cronyism

Failure upwards is a common feature of cronyism whereby a social group continue to promote and reward each other despite an ongoing string of failures.

Bias for Action

Some organizations, industries and professions favor a bias for action whereby individuals can take risks without overthinking. A bias for action can be expected to result in occasional failures but may work out in professions that favor risk taking such as sales.

Innovation

Innovation requires experimentation and attempts to change entire industries with new approaches. As such, it is steeped in unusual levels of risk and failure. Innovative organizations may not look negatively on failures that were valid attempts to do something big.

Overview: Failing Upwards
Type	Risk Taking Organizational Culture Professional Strategy
Definition	A series of failures that is good for an individual's career.
Related Concepts	Fail Often Fail Well Organizational Culture Office Politics Bias For Action Risk Taking Cronyism