Leadership is a dynamic, complex and yet exciting journey that requires the delicate balancing act of leading, managing, doing, making decisions, navigating challenges and inspiring others. Even the most established leaders are not immune to the inevitability of making mistakes. And if someone tells you they are...that’s false. No matter whether you’re an emerging leader, new leader or been there for years, recognizing that we all make mistakes as leaders shouldn’t be seen as a sign of weakness, but shifting our mindset to view it is critical to growth, learning and ultimately evolving into a better leader.
Mistakes are not setbacks as long as we use it as an opportunity to fail forward. They can serve as a powerful opportunity to learn, adapt, share with others and refine our leadership skills. Leaders who choose to show up and embrace failure for them and their team create a culture of continuous improvement. By openly discussing mistakes and the lessons learned, so that we don’t repeat them again. Mistakes lead us to an environment full of innovation, experimentation and collaboration.
Mistakes are simply unavoidable but they’re also invaluable.
Imagine if I handed you a $20 bill right at this moment. You’d undoubtedly seize the opportunity to put a few extra bucks in your pocket. Now, what if I crumpled up that $20 bill before passing it to you? Would your interest waiver at all? Probably not. And suppose I took the bill, flattened it under my shoes right in the dirt and then gve it to you – would you still accept it? Absolutely, without hesitation. Brush off the dirt and head to the nearest coffee shop!
So why is that?
It’s because regardless of its imperfections, the bill maintains its underlying value of $20 and we see that without a doubt.
Similarly, making a mistake doesn’t imply that we’re any less valuable to our team. Our worth doesn’t diminish just because we’ve stumbled a bit. A mistake means we have gained insights from an experience that we’re now well equipped for if we ever encounter that situation again.
A Team Human Conversation
Fight workplace zombies in your organization and join Team Human! Gather a group of fellow workplace zombie hunters to discuss our most recent blog post. Use the questions below to kick start your conversation.
Share an example from your leadership journey where you made a mistake. How did you handle the situation and what lessons did you learn from it that you carried with you to this day?
How do you feel openly acknowledging and addressing mistakes would impact how a team viewed their leader?
How can you embrace a culture of continuous improvement? What strategies can you use to help your team members feel comfortable sharing mistakes for the purpose of their growth and development?
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