Why You Are Either Winning or Learning

Never let a mistake go to waste

Photo by Japheth Mast on Unsplash

Rahm Emanuel is often quoted as saying, "Never let a crisis go to waste." He was, perhaps cynically, pointing out that crises can be opportunities to enact policies or forward agendas that might not be possible during less chaotic times.

I prefer to be more upbeat and optimistic and concentrate more on self-improvement, helping those around me, and seeking help from them.

If you are in a leadership position, you dread stepping on that landmine or uttering a wrong phrase. You have had visions of losing face, your job, or your reputation for the slightest slip of the tongue or other mistake.

We are all prone to such catastrophizing.

However, this is a flaw that we must seek to change. While challenging, lessons learned by making mistakes can be the most influential and longest-lasting of our positive changes.

Besides, we are going to make an error at some point. So why not learn from it? Why not take the opportunity to grow and to further lead your team by example in being open and honest about your mistake or misstatement?

Unfortunately, taking the easy way out is so easy. Just cover it up, hide it, or blame your mistake on someone else. In today's highly competitive and…