I announced in May, 2010, the 52 - Week Employee Recognition Plan. This is the 34th week. The lesson this week is:
- Share your failures.
That is a tough one to consider. We are taught that leaders are strong, remote, always right and if they are not then it is best to not remind them.
That approach throughout our economy has led us to a top-down, hierarchical, command control management approach which is fantastic for running machines. It has also led us to a leadership gap where leaders are not trusted, employee engagement is at an all-time low, and ROA or Return on Assets for public companies has dropped by over 75% since 1965. Link.
Somewhere in my life I started to recognize I have made a lot of mistakes. I have entries in all the major categories of mistakes. But for the grace...I would say. It wasn’t grace that necessarily kept me from making a lot of mistakes; I’d already made them. It was grace that kept the mistakes and their impact...minor.
However, I also noticed that the mistakes taught me so much. They taught me so much more than any lesson plan. I learned self-reliance and creativity and flexibility. I learned to listen and to forgive. I learned everyone forgives when you are open and honest. I learned customers will grow in loyalty when you turn those mistakes into an opportunity to far exceed their expectations. Those are in addition to a better understanding of my customers’ expectations and my resources in meeting them.
Some may experience my attitude towards mistakes as cavalier. I could be guilty. But it is also I am guilty of making a lot of mistakes and having learned a lot in that process.
The biggest lesson I learned is that if I share my failures openly then it helps everyone. Now, we can relax. Now we can focus. Now we can risk an idea or two. Now we can learn. Now we can lead.
And they can help those they lead do the same.
Share your failures. Sometimes they are pretty funny...eventually. Failures are always wonderful teaching moments. Sharing those moments helps those around you learn. And a culture of learners is a culture of leaders.
We need leaders. So, share your failures.
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You can start with any week of the 52 - Week Employee Recognition Plan and make that your first week.
You can take one of those weeks and turn it into a month or commit to an accelerated pace and complete 6 of the weeks in one month.
You can create your own week of employee recognition. Share that journey here. Share it in your blog or Twitter or Facebook.
But, do something to recognize your employees! They set your brand apart as your ultimate competitive edge. And the more you recognize their achievements, the more achievements you'll see and they'll enjoy, along with your customers and and shareholders, partners and vendors.
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