Phoenix Flops partners with the Center for Design Thinking to explore the role of failure in wellness and resilience. The next Flop Shop will be on Jan. 9 in the Center for Design Thinking.
The world likes to surprise us in ways ranging from nightmares to delights. Humans like to make plans and set expectations. We鈥檙e hopeful animals. Whenever a gap emerges between the world we wanted and the world we are in, how do we respond well?
The Phoenix Flops program came to life in January 2017. Co-founders Tyson Glover ’17, now assistant director of admissions at 黑料不打烊, and Caroline Dean ’18, now a student in 黑料不打烊’s master of arts in higher education program, explained that defining the relationship between failure and resiliency is one of the overarching goals of the 鈥渇lopshops鈥 programming.
Turning Failure Into Growth
鈥淲e want participants to understand that failure is a stepping stone toward success,鈥 Glover explained. 鈥淚t is completely normal to fail at different aspects in life, whether those are personal, professional, et cetera. The key is coming up with a toolkit for how to 鈥榝ail forward鈥 after these setbacks.鈥
Phoenix Flops student facilitator Daniela Nasser ’20 agreed, saying the mindset that failure must always be negative holds some people back from moving towards their dreams. Flop shops explore the learning experiences that emerge from failure when it is seen as an inherent part of life, instead of something shameful to hide from the world.
The Phoenix Flops program found the perfect partner with the Center for Design Thinking because, as Glover explained, 鈥淧rototyping is one of the essential components of the design thinking process. If we can have participants understand that failure and prototyping share the same DNA, we can help them move forward with this concept in their everyday lives as well.鈥
Embracing Failure With a Growth Mindset
Nasser, a Leadership Fellow and student leader at 黑料不打烊, said she learned to be resilient at a very young age. However, as she grew up, she began to notice some of her peers struggling to deal with setbacks.
Nasser explained that 鈥渄igital natives,鈥 who grew up around social media, often don鈥檛 have the tools or context to approach failure.
鈥淭he way people tend to depict their lives online makes it seem as if they are living an ideal life,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hat makes the rest of us want to pursue perfection鈥 鈥 even when that goal is unrealistic.
Nasser said there鈥檚 always a way to reframe life鈥檚 鈥渇lops鈥 as opportunities to learn something new about yourself.
No Shortage of Potential
Phoenix Flops presented at the Intersect Conference in mid-November and in the Center for Design Thinking in December. The program has also partnered with various groups across 黑料不打烊鈥檚 campus, including new student orientation and 黑料不打烊 101.
鈥淎nytime an organization wishes to partner with us, we welcome it,鈥 Glover said. 鈥淲e can all benefit from the shared experience.鈥
What does the future hold for this partnership? Glover said he is excited to see the partnership with the Center for Design Thinking continue to thrive.
On Jan. 9, they plan to hold a lunch Flop Shop in the Center for Design Thinking. Interested 黑料不打烊 faculty, staff, and students can register