“I screwed up!”: The importance of owning mistakes as a leader

This one can be tough. As a leader, we’ve all been there. You had the best of intentions and were certain that the plan you had in place was going to be successful. Then, as things begin to take shape, there’s that sudden and sinking realization that, you were WRONG! That’s the point where leaders have a completely internal, mini panic attack! The synapses in the brain go into overdrive and start pumping out every catastrophizing thought they can muster. Your day is going from smooth sailing to titanic pretty quickly. What you do next is going to determine just how bad it gets. Want to know the best way to fix it? Be HONEST!

I know, it sounds simple, and yet far too many leaders fail to do it. But why? Well, in most cases it’s because of fear of some sort. Fear that their leadership will think they can’t handle their responsibilities, or even worse, fear that their team will think the same. While that fear may not be totally unfounded, shying away from the being honest is not the answer. I assure you that the outcome will be much better if you simply tell the truth. The gain nearly always outweighs the risk.

Think about it. What is the real message when you tell your leader that something didn’t go according to plan or simply got screwed up? That you’re incompetent? I don’t think so! What you’re really saying is that you possess the analytical oversight to identify new problem sets. Additionally, you can use this opportunity to express how you plan to mitigate it in the future. The takeaway for your leadership will be that you are an asymmetrical thinker that can not only identify shortcomings but also develop ways to avoid re-occurrences. That’s exactly what a leader should be!

Now what about those you lead? Does the idea of owning a screw up make you think you’ll lose respect? Do you fear losing your power base? If so, don’t! The reality is, by taking ownership you show those you lead that not only are you a transparent, honest leader, but you are also HUMAN! This is hugely important to the folks you lead. It cultivates a sense of being in it together. It allows them to give themselves a little grace when they screw up and they are far more likely to come to you when they do. That allows you the opportunity as a leader to mitigate the situation early on.

At the end of the day, being less than transparent with your leadership and those you lead creates a false narrative. It sets unreal expectations for everyone involved. For you as the individual, thinking that somehow a screw up invalidates you as a leader. For your leadership, that may ultimately begin to think you’re disconnected and uninvolved, due to your apparent infallibility. For those you lead by portraying an unattainable goal for them to emulate. Honestly, how much more productive is it to show that EVERYONE screws up. It affords you the opportunity to train those you lead how to be flexible and resilient. It shows them that, sure there are going to be missteps and setback, but that doesn’t have to stop them from overcoming and completing the mission!

So next time you have the chance to show true transparency I challenge you to do so. The follow on results from your leadership and those you lead may surprise you.