Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved tinkering with things, taking them apart to understand how they worked, though I rarely got them back together quite right. I was always building something, whether it was with Legos or electronic kits.

My curiosity sometimes got the best of me. Once, I took my dad’s wire cutters and cut the 220V power cord connected to our dryer while it was running. Sparks flew, and fortunately, I didn’t electrocute myself. I was about six years old and had no idea how dangerous it was.

Of course, I didn’t want to get in trouble, so I blamed my sister and even made up stories about how the cord might have cut itself. My parents knew I was lying. My dad eventually sat me down and asked for the truth, assuring me I wouldn’t get in trouble. I finally confessed.

This incident taught me the importance of taking responsibility. In leadership, mistakes are inevitable. Whether it’s a personal error or something that goes wrong under your watch, owning up to it is crucial. Some leaders struggle with this, seeing admission of mistakes as a sign of failure. Yet, taking responsibility can build a healthy culture where people feel safe to learn and grow from their errors.

A mentor once told me, “You can choose to be right or you can choose to be happy, but sometimes it’s difficult to be both.” This wisdom-highlights that maintaining relationships and fostering a positive environment might require owning up to what’s not working, even if it wasn’t entirely your fault.

In my journey, I’ve made more mistakes than successes. However, admitting these mistakes and learning from them has led to significant growth. When I was a pastor, our team joked about the rules we had for me—not allowing me to do event planning because I wasn’t good at it. This approach not only acknowledged my weaknesses but also allowed others to shine.

Proverbs 28:13 (TLB) says, “A person who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful.” This resonates deeply with me. Admitting mistakes fosters personal and professional growth.

How about you? Have you experienced positive outcomes from taking responsibility for your actions? Have you seen leaders handle mistakes in ways that either helped or hindered their teams?

Admitting our shortcomings and working on them not only helps us grow but also sets a precedent for those around us. It creates an environment where making mistakes is part of the learning process rather than something to be hidden or blamed on others. Whether it’s a curious child or a leader, acknowledging and learning from mistakes is crucial for building trust, fostering learning, and achieving success.

-Jason