A captain who says “that one’s on me” makes it safe for everyone else to own theirs.

LEADERSHIP

WHAT THIS MEANS

A group takes its cue on blame from whoever is in front. When the person with the most standing absorbs a mistake openly, everyone else learns that admitting one is survivable here, and the errors start surfacing early enough to fix. When the leader deflects, the whole team learns to hide.

Own the next thing that goes wrong on your watch, plainly and without a caveat about the circumstances. Do it in front of the group rather than privately. You are setting the price of honesty for everyone else.

A QUESTION TO SIT WITH

When did you take blame that made others braver?

MORE IN LEADERSHIP & INFLUENCE

Free, with nothing to buy inside it.