How leaders can admit they were wrong

"Leaders learn to say things with confidence. You may assume that people will be more prone to listen to you when you speak forcefully and with a sense of belief. Despite your best efforts, though, you're going to say something incorrect every now and again. You might get out ahead of a story only to find out that things were not as they seemed initially. You might just have your facts wrong."

"Let everyone know as soon as possible after you find out that you said something that was not correct. Don't sit on the error for days. It is best if everyone hears it from you rather than having someone else discover the mistake first and make your admission feel like a reaction. Of course, if someone else does point out that what you said was incorrect, you should verify that they are correct and then immediately thank them for providing the feedback."

"After all, you want the people who work for you and with you to own their mistakes. The best way to demonstrate that you value corrections is to issue your own quickly. In addition, by thanking people who pointed out errors, you encourage others to step forward with errors they notice as well. That helps to keep the organization functioning with good knowledge."

Leaders should admit mistakes immediately upon discovering incorrect statements. Immediate admission prevents others from discovering the error first and avoids reactive explanations. When someone else identifies an error, verify their correction and thank them, even crediting them publicly. Prompt self-correction models accountability, encourages others to report mistakes, and preserves accurate organizational knowledge. Leaders should use simple declarative sentences to own errors rather than evasive language. Rapid, straightforward admissions demonstrate that corrections are valued, reduce embarrassment, and sustain credibility. Cultivating quick transparency promotes a culture where people feel safe to correct information and improve collective decision-making.

Read at Fast Company