The Phenomenon of Failing Up | Episode 86

In this episode, Ron and Kristin dive into the concept of "failing up," where individuals fail repeatedly in their roles but still manage to get promoted. They begin by discussing Kamala Harris's political career, highlighting key moments where she broke rules but faced no real consequences. These include her late registration to vote at age 29, campaign finance violations during her 2003 District Attorney race, accepting donations from slumlords she was supposed to regulate, and mishandling a major drug lab scandal as Attorney General.

The hosts explain how certain people, particularly those with positions of power, are able to fail without penalty, while others are not given the same leniency. They touch on research that shows hiring managers often mistake overconfidence for competence, which plays into the Dunning-Kruger effect, and how "matching" in hiring allows people who resemble decision-makers to climb the ladder.

They also explore examples from the corporate world, like Adam Neumann, the former CEO of WeWork, who failed yet secured new funding for a venture despite his shortcomings. The episode wraps up by discussing how leadership should focus on substance and competence, rather than style or connections, and the need for accountability in promoting true leaders.

Listeners are left reflecting on the frustrating reality of "failing up" and how to foster a workplace where all employees are allowed to learn and grow from their failures.

Sources:
1. Kamala Harris's Voting Record and Political Career:
Information about Kamala Harris not registering to vote until she was 29, along with her earlier legal career, can be found in various biographical sources and political commentary, such as:
The Truths We Hold: An American Journey by Kamala Harris.
Coverage from reputable political analysis websites like Politico or Washington Examiner .
Kamala Harris's 2003 DA Campaign Spending Violations:

The spending violations during Harris's 2003 campaign for San Francisco District Attorney were widely reported in local San Francisco news outlets at the time, as well as in political analysis pieces discussing her rise in politics.
San Francisco Chronicle, The Hill, and Los Angeles Times cover some of the controversies from her DA run .
Kamala Harris and the Drug Lab Scandal as Attorney General:

The scandal involving the San Francisco crime lab, where a technician was stealing drugs, is documented in reports by outlets like The New York Times and Los Angeles Times, which highlighted how Harris, then California’s Attorney General, was criticized for mishandling the issue .
Failing Up Concept and Leadership Psychology:

The broader concept of “failing up” and why certain individuals succeed despite their failures has been explored in studies and articles:
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic's research on overconfidence in leadership and the Dunning-Kruger effect, published in Leadership Quarterly .
The Harvard Business Review and Forbes often discuss how overconfident leaders get promoted despite their lack of competence .
Privilege in Leadership and Cultural Matching:

Research on “cultural matching” in hiring practices and the effects of privilege on career advancement has been published in sociological studies:
Ruchika Tulshyan, an expert on inclusion, has written extensively on the topic, and studies on privilege in leadership roles can be found in the American Sociological Review .
Adam Neumann and Failing Up in the Corporate World:

Adam Neumann, the former CEO of WeWork, is a well-documented case of corporate “failing up.” Coverage of his rise and fall, and subsequent new ventures despite past failures, has been detailed in publications like The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg .

Co-hosts: Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff
Sponsor: 4Ward Operations
Producer: Stephen Ridley
Facebook Group Administrator: Cassy Roop

Where leadership meets entertainment! This weekly podcast takes both a humorous and intense look at leadership through impactful stories, answers to listener questions, and breakdowns of dirty lessons from Ron's best selling book, "The Dirty Side of Leadership".

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