Own the Mistake: It’s What Leaders Do

Most leaders understand the idea of accountability. In theory, owning mistakes sounds straightforward. In practice, it is often the hardest thing to do, especially when the stakes are high and the spotlight is bright.

What usually gets in the way is not ego alone. It is pressure. Reputation. The instinct to protect momentum. The quiet hope that a problem will fade if it is handled quietly enough.

When Things Go Sideways

The largest project I’ve led in my career did not go the way we planned when it launched. In fact, it was a mess in some very visible ways. I could see it happening in real time and knew immediately that we had missed the mark.

In that moment, my focus was not on defending the work or explaining the constraints. It was on working with my team to stabilize what we could and figure out how to make it better. Over the months that followed, I owned the failure openly. I apologized to anyone who had been impacted, including the volunteer committees who had invested their time and trust in us. We had not delivered on our promise.

After the final meeting on what I half-jokingly called my apology tour, one of the volunteer leaders pulled me aside during a break. He told me it was time to move forward. We had messed it up, but now it was time to survive and advance.

He was not dismissing what had happened. He was giving me permission to stop living in it. That moment created the space to put the mistake fully behind us and focus on what came next.

Owning the Mistake Is Not the End of the Work

Owning a mistake matters. It signals respect. It restores credibility. It shows people you are willing to stand behind the outcome, not just the intent.

But accountability on its own is not enough. What people are really watching for is what happens next. Do things actually change. Do commitments get met. Does the apology turn into action.

In our case, that follow-through mattered more than anything I said. We addressed the issues. We rebuilt confidence. We delivered on the commitments we had made. Today, that event is the premier gathering in its profession and includes several offerings outside the United States.

What Leaders Often Miss

Most leaders know they should own mistakes. Fewer recognize when it is time to stop apologizing and start moving forward.

Endless apologies can stall progress just as much as denial. Teams need to know two things at the same time. That you take responsibility. And that you are capable of leading what comes next.

Final Thought

Mistakes are part of leadership. What defines leaders is not whether they make them, but how long they hide from them and how intentionally they move forward afterward. Accountability opens the door. Progress is what restores trust.

How We Can Help

Eventcraft Studios works with leaders and teams navigating high-stakes moments where outcomes fall short of expectations. We help organizations take responsibility without getting stuck, rebuild trust through action and move forward with clarity and confidence.

If you are carrying the weight of a misstep and trying to figure out what comes next, we can help you turn accountability into forward motion.

Contact us at todd@eventcraftstudios.com or www.eventcraftstudios.com/contact.

© Eventcraft Studios. Originally published 2026. All rights reserved.