Leaders can let you fail and yet not let you be a failure.

McChrystal distinguishes between a discrete setback (“fail”) and a fixed identity (“a failure”). The line argues that effective leaders create conditions where people can take risks, make mistakes, and learn without being stigmatized or discarded. It implies a culture of accountability paired with dignity: consequences and feedback may follow failure, but the person is still valued and coached toward improvement. In organizations facing uncertainty—military units, startups, crisis teams—this stance encourages initiative and adaptability, because individuals are less likely to hide errors or avoid hard decisions. The quote also suggests that leadership is partly narrative: how leaders frame a mistake can determine whether it becomes a lesson or a label.