Learning From Your Mistakes As A Leader Can Be Harder But Not Impossible

When you are a leader, everything can feel a little harder, especially learning from your mistakes. Making a mistake or experiencing failure is challenging when all eyes are on you. Which they often are if you are in a management position or leading a team.

While the aftermath can be tough, there is intense pressure to learn from the mistake. Nobody wants it to happen again, especially not you. You are probably beating yourself up about it, scared of what people think of you.

‘Leaders shouldn’t make mistakes’ is a false phrase. Anyone can make a mistake. Just because you’re in management does not mean you suddenly stopped being human. Humans are prone to errors, and that includes you.

Many people agree that a mistake is an opportunity to learn and grow, especially as a leader. Not to say, of course, that you should make mistakes on purpose. Just that if they do happen, you can learn from them and improve.

And this guide is here to help you. And before you comment that you just won’t do it again, know that learning from your mistakes can sometimes go beyond avoiding repeating them. Discover more about learning from your mistakes from a leadership perspective below.

Learning From Your Mistakes: 6 Rules All Leaders Must Follow

Acknowledge the Mistake

The first step in learning from your mistakes is to acknowledge that they happened. It is a rule you must follow. Refusing or denying only reflects badly on you. Do not place blame or pass it off as someone else’s mistake.

Taking responsibility shows that you’re accountable and ready to learn. If a project didn’t go as planned, say that you made a mistake instead of trying to blame someone else. In addition, focus on what can be improved. Admitting a mistake helps build trust with your team and sets the stage for growth.

Reflect on What Went Wrong

After acknowledging the mistake, take time to reflect on what went wrong. You may feel the need to move on quickly from a mistake. Dwelling on it less feels like the right move to avoid putting it under the spotlight.

However, it’s important to pump the breaks and reflect on what went wrong. Ask yourself questions like, “What could I have done differently?” and “What led to this outcome?” Of course, you do not need to do this publicly. Just take some time and look at it from your perspective.

For instance, if you missed a deadline, reflect on whether poor time management or unclear communication caused it. By understanding the factors behind the mistake, you can avoid making the same error in the future.

Learn from Feedback

Part of learning from your mistakes is accepting feedback from others. Sometimes, you are too close to seeing the real issue. If it was your mistake or loss, asking for feedback on what went wrong is a good idea.

Encourage your team to provide constructive criticism on what could have been done better. Make sure you establish that it is a safe place and that you are only looking to learn. Alternatively, you could ask a trusted mentor for some feedback after explaining the situation.

Remember that the goal here is to learn something you may not have seen. Listening to their feedback can provide valuable insights and help you make better decisions in the future.

Be Transparent with Your Team

Transparency is vital when learning from your mistakes. Often, we feel the need to hide our mistakes. It’s normal, but in a leadership role, it’s important to be transparent about it. Leaders who hide their mistakes receive less trust from their team members.

You do not want your people to see you as a person with little integrity. Owning up and being honest can actually earn you more trust. Let your team know when you’ve made a mistake, and share what you’ve learned from it.

Being open with your team fosters a culture of honesty and continuous improvement. Your team will feel more comfortable about speaking of their mistakes if they make them.

Take Corrective Action

Learning from your mistakes also means taking corrective action. Finally, you can strategize on how to improve and what you can do. Once you’ve identified what went wrong, implement changes to prevent it from happening again.

It’s important to get your team involved when creating corrective action strategies. Take advantage of the insight they give, especially if you had not thought about it. In addition, you could research how other leaders decided to learn from similar mistakes.

Taking action shows that you’re committed to improving and not just accepting failure. It’s a necessary step.

Be Patient with Yourself

Mistakes are part of being human. So, it’s important to be patient with yourself as you learn. This should be your number one rule. Don’t be too hard on yourself or expect perfection.

Focus on gradual improvement rather than immediate perfection, even when you make the same mistake more than once. Patience allows you to grow over time and become a more effective leader.

Embrace Failure as a Path to Success

Remember that failure is often a steppingstone to success. Many great leaders have experienced setbacks, but they learned from their mistakes and used them to grow stronger.

So, instead of focusing on being perfect every single time, embrace failure as part of your leadership journey. Use the lessons learned to create a more successful plan in the future.

Learning from your mistakes is just as rewarding as success. Look at it that way, and you will never beat yourself up over a mistake.

About Author

Waithira

About Author

Waithira Njagi

Waithira Njagi is a seasoned wellness and relationship content writer with nearly a decade of experience. Her passion for helping others navigate the complexities of personal growth and connection shines through in her engaging and insightful writing.
With a knack for distilling complex topics into easily digestible pieces, Waithira's work is geared toward readers seeking guidance and inspiration on their journey to holistic well-being.
When she's not crafting engaging articles, you can find Waithira curled up with a stack of romance novels– always rooting for love to win– or enjoying quality time with her beloved family. Her dedication to spreading love and positivity is evident in everything she creates.

Waithira is here to remind you that life, much like their stories, is a tapestry of connections - to loved ones, and the endless adventures found in books.