Is the boss really not making any mistakes? Could he/she be really always right?
Does higher position go hand in hand with infallibility?
Many senior executives try to look perfect, even though no one is perfect - and no one expects them to be.
What is the reason that somehow it still seems to be so difficult for many people to say such things as:
"I made a mistake!"
"You're right, your approach is better than mine!"
"I'm sorry I messed this up!"
"I apologise to everyone!"
Everyone makes mistakes - and everyone is aware of that. To say this out loud, to admit it, instead of denying it or simply slipping over it, is just a sign of human greatness.
It is much more inspiring and useful for a team member to see how his or her superior copes with failures and how he/she solves problems than to try to show an impeccable image.
Furthermore, a higher position is not a state but a process. If we achieve a promotion on the basis of performance, we can prove that we WILL be able to successfully fill the position. So our competencies, abilities, and our attitude are appropriate for the given position. But the learning just begins! Expanded job, more expectations, more workload, responsibility, shared attention and energy: these are factors that we do not cope with right away, we have to grow up, get used to it, we have to experience it.
We can learn not only from mistakes, but also from our own team. Everyone has their own strengths and it is important that we stay open and dare to learn from others.
Because, it is not the team that works for the leader, but the leader works for the team. Leadership is a service that can only be filled successfully with humility and determination. To be a leader is not about getting the position but to become a person who is worth to be followed!
Let’s stay self-identical, honest and consistent. For a team it's also easier to stick to an honest leader, they will open more easily and they will be more honest too. When choosing to “fake it, till we make it”, we only create an unnecessary and harmful gap between ourselves and the team.
Making a mistake is worth gold, as there are only 2 options: success or experience!
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