How should we handle mistakes? I am not talking about a crime or unethical act or gross negligence. The reality is everything cannot run perfectly at all times. Mistakes will occur. We all make them.
When something goes wrong, leaders should question themselves first. Did I make a mistake? Could I have done that better? Am I wrong? Did I provide the right resources, training, systems, objectives, etc.. Confirm causes to select solutions. Diagnose to treat.
The best leaders are always open to the idea that we made the mistake. We should encourage everyone to be open and honest about mistakes even ours. When it’s confirmed that it was our error, leaders have to be open and honest, accept responsibility, and promise and strive to do better.
Make your mistakes as a leader into a learning opportunity for everyone. This builds trust and assures the team that it’s OK to make mistakes. You are the message.
We are free to fail here, we fail forward, and we fail up. Mistakes mean decisions were being made. Mistakes are the price for progress. Mistakes are expected and allowed. Success requires mistakes. This must be our culture.
Once this becomes the culture, people do not waste valuable time and energy on defensive and ego-driven thinking and behaviors. Nothing is worse than limited time, talent, and energy spent on denying or debating an obvious error. Instead, keep pouring everything we’ve got into the mission.
This takes the right leader and a team of truth-tellers who are encouraged and rewarded for being honest with their leader and each other at all times. Accept responsibility rather than assign blame. Focus on solutions. Make progress. Preserve the culture. Sustain the team. Achieve the mission. Handle mistakes the right way to get the best results.
