Recognize and Admit Mistakes

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on October 01

Recognizing and admitting your mistakes strengthen your ability to lead. To err is human, and is therefore a necessary part of being an engaging, credible leader. Those who deny, gloss over, or shift blame for their mistakes simply aren’t believable among those they lead. When you admit a mistake, your vulnerability allows others to connect with you more easily. They are then more apt to feel a greater level of commitment to you, and to be inspired to raise the bar for themselves. As strange as it may seem, coming clean about a good old-fashioned screw-up is both strong and insightful leadership. To practice, ask yourself the following self-coaching questions:

1. How do I tend to handle accountability for my own mistakes?

2. What would I need to do differently to be more accountable to others when I err?

3. How might forgiving myself or others play a role in how I handle my mistakes?

David Peck
President
Leadership Unleashed
Palm Springs, Calif.