In my life, I have failed in leadership multiple times. I wish this were not so, but it is so. I have a dear friend who is a gifted football coach. He has told me multiple times: I have learned how I want to coach football by watching other coaches do it the wrong way. In other words, he was saying: I do not want to coach like them, so I am going to coach more effectively.
As leaders, we should lead with humility. This means we must learn from our own mistakes. Furthermore, we need to learn from others who make mistakes in leadership.
OFTENTIMES, we are afraid to deal with the hard things in leadership. Therefore, we start sending conflicting signs about what needs to be done. We run away from what is clear. This results in ineffective leadership that communicates with clarity and consistency. This becomes a wreck when the organization and the leadership team are in the midst of change.
