I was wrong

February 11, 2022

What’s the hardest thing for you to say and mean it?

I would argue, “I was wrong,” has to be near the top of the list. It’s a difficult thing to admit to yourself. Even harder to say out loud.

While it’s uncomfortable to admit our mistakes, I reckon that most of us are generally pretty good about it in our private relationships.

But what about at work?

How does taking responsibility for a bad decision affect your leadership?

Let’s look at an example from history…

Failure At The Bay of Pigs

In April 1961, less than six months into his presidency, John Kennedy made the decision to follow through with a plan to overthrow Fidel Castro, the Communist leader of Cuba. The mission was a disaster. Most of the Cuban exiles who fought for America were dead within 48 hours. Those that survived were captured as prisoners.

In the aftermath, JFK was advised to dodge blame and pin the actions of his administration on the defense of Guantanamo Bay. They worried that a military failure so early in his Presidency could be used as a sign of weakness by political opponents. But instead of passing the buck, JFK took full responsibility for the invasion’s failure and promised to do better in the future.

At a news conference the following day, he said, “There’s an old saying that victory has 100 fathers and defeat is an orphan… I’m the responsible officer of the Government.” Gallup polls taken the following week showed Kennedy had an 83% approval rating and 61% of Americans approved of his handling of the situation.

A Leadership Paradox

Kennedy’s response after the Bay of Pigs illustrates the paradox between strength and humility.

It’s tempting to believe that a leader’s strength derives from their unwavering ability to be right all the time. But that’s not true. Instead, a leader’s strength comes from their ability to earn the respect and trust of others.

Think about it: Do you respect someone who always denies responsibility when something goes wrong? Do you trust their judgment when they make a habit of ignoring critical feedback?

Pastor Craig Groeschel says, “People would rather follow a leader that’s real than one that’s always right.”

In other words, “Be perfect” isn’t in your leadership job description.

You don’t lose credibility when you get something wrong. You lose credibility when you fail to recognize your mistake and learn from it.