When someone on your team makes a mistake, what happens next?
Do they speak up–or stay quiet?
Do leaders give feedback that demonstrates curiosity–or do they blame employees?
After interviewing over 200 leaders and contributors for my podcast “My Favorite Mistake” 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 comment on the poll on LinkedIn. The poll is now closed, and the results are below:
These were 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.
What's your reaction to those results? I was happy to see that only 6% said it was “not safe” in a definitive way and that only 17% said it was “risky.”
You can compare these results to a related poll that I conducted in 2024 about “fear” and “futility.”
From the two surveys, it paints a picture that “futility” is a bigger barrier than “fear” (as research by Prof. Ethan Burris has shown).
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 (in a positive way).
Please scroll down (or click) to post a comment. Connect with me on LinkedIn.
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.
