“I am never, ever wrong.”
That's a statement that should disqualify an applicant from ANY leadership position.
True leadership isn't about projecting infallibility–it's about fostering a culture where mistakes are seen as opportunities for learning and growth.
Leaders who claim they're never wrong create an environment where fear of failure stifles innovation, and team members are less likely to speak up or challenge ideas. This is the opposite of what effective leadership requires.
In The Mistakes That Make Us, I emphasize that a psychologically safe environment, where mistakes can be admitted and learned from, accelerates both individual and organizational improvement.
A leader's role should be to model humility and vulnerability, acknowledging their own missteps. This approach not only builds trust but also encourages continuous improvement.
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If leaders can't admit their own mistakes, they set a dangerous precedent, leading to defensiveness, blame-shifting, and a lack of accountability across the team. Instead, strong leaders guide their organizations by showing that mistakes are a natural part of progress
This aligns with the core principles of Lean and Kaizen.
In a truly learning organization, leadership is about enabling teams to experiment, make mistakes, and continuously improve. It's about learning from mistakes, not avoiding them.
Leaders who claim they're never wrong not only miss personal growth opportunities but also stunt the growth of their teams.
Let's choose leadership that's courageous enough to admit things like:
- “I don't have all the answers,”
- “I was wrong,” and
- “I might be wrong,”
because that's where real growth and innovation begin.
If you're interested in learning more about how mistakes can lead to growth and innovation, I invite you to get a free preview of my book, The Mistakes That Make Us. You'll find stories and insights that will help you cultivate a culture of learning in your organization. Click here to get your free preview!
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Let’s work together to build a culture of continuous improvement and psychological safety. If you're a leader looking to create lasting change—not just projects—I help organizations:
- Engage people at all levels in sustainable improvement
- Shift from fear of mistakes to learning from them
- Apply Lean thinking in practical, people-centered ways
Interested in coaching or a keynote talk? Let’s start a conversation.
This comment, from the same job candidate, should also be disqualifying:
“I’ve always been a leader. I’ve never had any problem leading people. If I say do it, they’re going to do it. That’s what leadership is all about.”
Real comments.
[…] Management Failure: How Refusing to Be Unsuitable Hurts Groups and Innovation – Mark Graban explains true management is not about projecting infallibility–it is about fostering a tradition the place errors are seen as alternatives for studying and progress. […]