“This plan didn’t work, here’s the next one” is one of the strongest sentences a leader can say.

Admitting a plan failed is not weakness, and the reason is in the second half of the sentence. On its own, it is bad news. Paired with what happens next, it becomes evidence that the group is being steered by someone paying attention to reality rather than defending a decision. What actually damages a team is the leader who keeps insisting a dead plan is still alive while everyone can see it is not.

Name the failure plainly, without apology theatre, and bring one specific alternative. Then ask what you missed.