It’s pretty well known that no one in this world is perfect. But it’s really easy to lose sight of this fact.
Sometimes, I can be a little hard on myself and I’m sure other people would agree with me on this. The only thing that matters is that you continue to learn from your mistakes.
I’ve been taking a deep look at myself and my leadership chops this week and noticed something very interesting. The more vulnerable I am with others, the more others are willing to work with me instead of against me. Vulnerability is a very powerful tool in the leadership toolkit.
It’s important for people to know that you are human. It’s important that they hear you own your mistakes and shortcomings. It shows a level of maturity that not a lot of people possess. I’ve learned that the more I embrace failure around my peers and direct reports, the more they trust in my ability to lead.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen this play out at work.
Try saying things like, “I understand where the ball was dropped here and I’ll own this.” Or, “You were completely right about that, I’ll work to make the necessary changes.”
The goal should never be about being “right” or having the answer. The goal should be to get better. To grow. Nobody is always “right”. Not even you.