Be honest with yourself.
As the leader of a not-for-profit organization, you make good decisions and proudly lead your organization toward its cause--but, sometimes you slip and flub. Everyone makes blunders, and it is not the end of the world. It is the beginning of taking charge, standing tall, and confessing, “I messed up”.
Successful leaders take responsibility for their mistakes. How they handle their errors distinguishes them from mediocre managers. How do you react when you make a mistake? Do you hide it from your team and hope nobody notices? Do you try to sweep it under the rug? What do you do when your team notices the slip-up and watches to see what you will do?
Admitting oversights is a characteristic of a strong leader. Below are a few simple actions you can take that demonstrate superior leadership when you mess up:
1. Admit.
Don’t put effort into trying to cover-up the blunder. Speak up and say you did it. Take ownership of the situation. Don’t blow it out of proportion, but simple acknowledge your responsibility in the circumstance, then move on. Don’t linger or over-state your apology for the turn of events. Not admitting your mistake makes you look afraid and weak. Taking responsibility makes you look strong and earns respect.
2. Learn.
Every mistake holds a lesson. The important thing is to understand the mistake, and do not repeat it. We all make mistakes; only idiots repeat them. When you make a mistake, it probably means you took a chance and tried something new. Often mistakes occur when you are stretching your skills, trying creative solutions to problems, or maneuvering along a new route. You learn from mistakes what to do next time and what not to do next time a similar situation faces you. Great leaders learn from mistakes.
3. Recover.
Let your experience help others learn how to cope with similar situations. Be a mentor. Share what you have learned with others. Great leaders are also teachers who show others how to do something they have experienced--and survived.
4. Step forward.
Admit your mistake and move on. Keep marching along and looking forward. Put failure in your rear-view mirror and set your sights on a strong future. Don’t let mistakes get you down or slow you down. Put your head up high and strut onward.
There are many leadership tips to make your job easier. Keep in touch with our blog. We have ideas to share and solutions to management and organizational questions. If you have questions about any other nonprofit industry topics, contact our not-for-profit team leader at trent@tbfosteraccounting.com.
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