“Mistakes are proof that you are trying.”
Unknown
If You’re Not Making Mistakes, You’re Not Leading
Let’s be real—nobody likes making mistakes. It stings. The missed opportunity, the wrong decision, the moment you look back on and think, I should have known better. But here’s the thing: mistakes are evidence that you showed up, took a risk, and gave effort.
Yesterday, I walked onto a karate mat for the first time in over 30 years. My opponent scored on me. More than once. Every point he landed was a lesson—my guard was too low, my reaction too slow, my stance not quite right. Were those mistakes? Sure. But what mattered was what I did next. I adjusted. I learned. I kept fighting. Leadership growth through mistakes, that’s what I was focused on achieving.
That’s leadership in its rawest form. Not having all the answers. Not getting it right every time. But showing up, engaging fully, and using every misstep as a stepping stone to something better.
The Courage to Fail is the Courage to Grow
Leadership isn’t about perfection. It’s about movement—about stepping forward even when you don’t have a guaranteed win. The leaders who never make mistakes? They aren’t leading; they’re hiding.
Think about the last time you held back because you feared getting it wrong. Now, think about what you missed by not stepping up. Growth doesn’t happen in safety. It happens in action, in the tension of effort and uncertainty.
I recommend a book I recently read titled, The Confidence Gap: A Guide to Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt by Russ Harris. Here Russ explores why action—even in the face of failure—is key to building resilience.
What’s one risk you’ve been avoiding because you’re afraid to get it wrong?
Authenticity Builds Trust, Not Perfection
People don’t trust flawless leaders. They trust real ones—those willing to own mistakes, admit when they don’t have the answer, and bring their teams into the learning process.
The leaders who inspire me most are the ones who say, Here’s where I messed up, and here’s what I learned. That kind of honesty creates space for others to take risks without fear. It sets the tone for innovation, problem-solving, and shared success. How are you thinking about creating a culture where leadership growth through mistakes is the norm?
How might your transparency inspire more trust and courage in others?
The Best Leaders Learn in Real Time
A mistake is only wasted if you refuse to learn from it. Strong leaders don’t just analyze failures after the fact; they adjust in the moment. They stay aware, self-reflective, and willing to pivot when necessary.
I learned more in six minutes on that karate mat than I could have from reading a hundred articles about defensive strategy. Why? Because experience is the best teacher. Real-time feedback is invaluable—if you’re humble enough to accept it.
I highly recommend, Black Box Thinking: Why Some People Never Learn from Their Mistakes—But Some Do by Matthew Syed. Here Matthew breaks down how embracing failure leads to high performance.
Are you treating mistakes as lessons or as roadblocks?
Mistakes Don’t Define You—They Refine You
Leadership is about staying in the fight. It’s about getting knocked down, recalibrating, and stepping back up with a little more wisdom than before. We have the greatest opportunity for leadership growth through mistakes.
The mistake isn’t what matters. What you do with it does.
So, what’s the lesson in today’s challenge? And more importantly—what’s your next move?
