When someone on your team makes a mistake, what happens next?
Do they speak up–or stay quiet?
Do they get curious feedback–or get blamed?
After interviewing over 200 leaders and contributors for my podcast and book, The Mistakes That Make Us, one truth has become clear:
Speaking up isn't about character–it's about culture.
People don't stay quiet because they're weak.
They stay quiet because it doesn't feel safe to be honest.
That's why I recently shared a simple question on LinkedIn:
At your current job, how safe is it to admit a mistake?
I'd love for you to add your perspective.
Click here to take the poll on LinkedIn (and view the results to date).
Here are the four poll options (LinkedIn keeps them short!):
- Very safe – no fear at all
- Somewhat – depends on boss
- Not very safe – it's risky
- Not safe – better stay quiet
If you vote, I'd encourage you to also leave a comment with a bit of context–what makes it safe (or not)? What role do leaders play? You can also post an anonymous comment here on the blog — something you might not feel comfortable sharing on LinkedIn with your name.
And if you're looking for a practical way to bring this conversation into your workplace, I created a free resource:
Download The Mistake-Smart Leader's Checklist
This one-page guide outlines six key behaviors that help leaders turn mistakes into learning, and silence into trust. It's inspired by lessons in the book–from Toyota, KaiNexus, healthcare systems, and even Bourbon distilleries.
Let's keep learning together–and let's build cultures where people don't just feel safe to speak up… they feel expected to.
What do you think? Please scroll down (or click) to post a comment. Or please share the post with your thoughts on LinkedIn – and follow me or connect with me there.
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Check out my latest book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation:
