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Recreation program planners can learn from program failures. Failures should not be viewed as negative statements about personnel. Examining feelings in a supportive staff environment is suggested as a technique for developing competence. (DF)

Program failure has been demonstrated to have both detrimental and enhancing effects upon individuals. Two detrimental reactions to program failures are those of self-doubt and embarrassment. The focus of adult and continuing educators should not be on condemning each other for failure, but on exploring program failure, how it personally affects one, and how one can learn from it. Adult educators must process and discuss their true feelings about program failure. Self-awareness appears to be essential in coping with unsuccessful program endeavors. To turn a failure into a success, educators must seek individuals who are able and willing to help them process feelings about failure. Educators need to evaluate periodically their practice of adult education principles and examine goals. A failure can lead them to professional literature for an update and examination of themselves in relationship to their goals. Being nice to oneself after a failure, an increase in self-reward, can enhance and speed recovery from program failures. (YLB)