Admitting Mistakes | Leila’s House of Corrections

Who likes to make mistakes? No one. No one likes to fail, yet we all do it, on a fairly regular basis. The question is how we react. Do you admit the blunder or do you disown it?

Come on managers, it s time to learn to admit mistakes.

A fundamental difference between successful leaders and struggling ones is the skill to recognize and accept a mistake. It s OK to be wrong. You re not perfect. This is real life, not the movies. While you don t get a do over or get to erase a gaffe, you can create a second chance. Here s how.

Tip 1: Own it.

You did it. You own it. When disclosing a fault, use the first person. For example, say I made a mistake or That was my decision. Now is not the time to include others and phrase it like, We made a mistake.

Tip 2: Don t defend it.

No excuses. After owning up, avoid the temptation to defend the faulty decision. No explanations unless they are requested and valid. Don t deflect responsibility, trying to position yourself as a victim of poor information, upper management misguidance, or too much work. Play offense now. Not defense.

Tip 3: Be constructive.

Ask yourself, What did I learn? What can I do differently the next time? As a manager, you coach your team members, using similar inquires. How can you prevent this mistake in the future? Which one of your behaviors needs to change? And how will you do it?

The scope of the slip-up influences how you respond. Depending on what you did and who was affected by it, you may also need to offer sincere apologies.

Remember, strong managers admit mistakes and don t dwell on them. Once you ve come clean, it s time to move on.