E1. How to Recover from Mistakes as a Leader

Boi Carpenter

When we think about leadership, it’s easy to picture strength—decisive action, sharp instincts, a commitment to unwavering confidence. But you know, here’s the thing nobody talks about enough—mistakes. They’re inevitable. No matter how seasoned, how practiced you are, mistakes will happen. And as leaders, the challenge isn’t avoiding them; it’s understanding how they shape us.

Boi Carpenter

And, let’s be honest for a moment—why do we fear mistakes so much as leaders? It’s because there’s often this, invisible pressure to be perfect. Perfectionism, while it can drive high standards, often becomes a barrier. It becomes kind of this rigid expectation that can sap our ability to get back up when things go wrong. It sees failure as an end point, rather than part of the process. But here’s the shift that truly sets great leaders apart: realizing that mistakes are not obstacles to our credibility, but opportunities to show resilience, to model accountability, and to foster trust within a team.

Boi Carpenter

I’ve seen it time and again, in my own experiences and those of my coaching clients. Recovery—how you pick yourself up—defines your leadership far more than whatever caused the stumble in the first place. It’s not about the perfection we strive for; it’s about growing through what we go through, right? By redefining failure as a learning tool, by being self-aware enough to catch perfectionism before it halts forward motion, we not only transform ourselves but set the stage for others to do the same.

Boi Carpenter

Think about this: every time you recover from a mistake thoughtfully and transparently, you cultivate trust. Not only that, but you set a standard on how challenges can be approached with honesty. It’s these moments—these crucial moments—that showcase a leader not as infallible, but as someone courageous enough to face flaws head-on, in service of growth and alignment. So really, the question isn’t how to avoid mistakes. It’s, "Who do I become through them?"

Boi Carpenter

And, honestly, that’s where the mindset shift begins. Challenges, setbacks, they’re natural outcomes of stepping into any leadership space. But if we can look at mistakes as stepping-stones—a way to build resilience in ourselves and our teams—they stop being liabilities. They, become integral to our success stories.

Boi Carpenter

Okay, so let’s dive into this six-step framework, because honestly, having a clear process to lean on when mistakes happen is a game changer. The first step is determining the scope of the mistake. You need to know what you’re dealing with. Is it a small, contained issue, or something with broader implications? And more importantly, how did it come about? This isn’t about finger-pointing—it’s about finding clarity. Think of it like building the foundation for your recovery plan.

Boi Carpenter

Next comes analysis. This is where you take a step back and ask those tough questions. What went wrong here? Was it a breakdown in communication? A lack of information? Rushed decisions? Reflecting deeply on the factors involved helps identify what was in your control versus what wasn’t. I mean, you can’t fix what you don’t understand, right? Let me give you an example. Say a team missed a deadline due to unclear priorities. By analyzing the root cause, you might discover that expectations were hazy from the get-go. From there, you can start course-correcting.

Boi Carpenter

And now, the third step—acknowledgment. This one is key. Taking responsibility as a leader, even when it stings, actually builds credibility. I’ve seen leaders who were upfront about their mistakes earn more respect from their teams than those who tried to dodge accountability. It's about owning the narrative. It’s admitting where things went off track, not to dwell but to set the stage for improvement.

Boi Carpenter

Then there’s transparent communication with your team. Mistakes, when handled openly, can actually bring people together. When you articulate what happened and the steps being taken to move forward, you foster trust and collaboration. For example, if a team presentation falls flat because of incomplete data, the right conversation might sound something like, “I take responsibility for not ensuring we were fully prepared. Let’s talk about how we can align better going forward.” See how that shifts the tone?

Boi Carpenter

Now, step five—implementing solutions. This is where action speaks louder than words. Whether it’s patching a process gap, creating new protocols, or introducing tools like regular retrospectives to catch issues early, these actions signal commitment. It’s all about addressing the root cause, so the same mistake doesn’t happen twice. Think of it as turning the mistake into an upgrade for the whole system.

Boi Carpenter

And finally, step six—fostering growth. This is the part where you and your team extract the lessons. It’s not just about avoiding similar mistakes, but about translating setbacks into strategies for future success. Encouraging a culture that sees mistakes as learning opportunities can really reshape how challenges are approached. It’s about building resilience, one step, one adjustment at a time.

Boi Carpenter

So, let’s wrap this up with what I believe is one of the most important shifts a leader can make: embracing progress over perfection. You see, the idea of perfection—flawlessness—it’s a bit of a mirage, isn’t it? It’s this unattainable marker we chase, when in reality, growth happens through the imperfections. Progress, not perfection, is where strong leadership is truly defined.

Boi Carpenter

I mean, think about some of the great leaders you’ve admired. What sets them apart? More often than not, it’s their ability to keep moving forward. They don’t let mistakes paralyze them, they don’t chase an ideal they can’t reach. Instead, they learn, adapt, and bring their teams along for the journey. That adaptability—learning from what doesn’t work and pivoting toward what does—that’s where resilience grows. And resilience is foundational in leadership.

Boi Carpenter

One way to keep this mindset at the forefront is by creating space to reflect. And I’m not talking about elaborate rituals here. Something as simple as keeping a “lessons learned journal.” Jotting down those moments where things didn’t go as planned, alongside the insights they sparked. Celebrate the progress those lessons bring. Over time, this collection becomes more than a reminder of stumbles—it’s a record of growth, both yours and your team’s.

Boi Carpenter

Leadership isn’t about being perfect. It’s about letting mistakes teach you, allowing challenges to refine you, and inspiring others by showing that growth happens one deliberate step at a time. And honestly, that’s the best kind of leadership—the kind that’s grounded in authenticity and fueled by a commitment to progress.

Boi Carpenter

And with that, we come to the end of today’s journey into leadership. Remember, every misstep holds a lesson, and every lesson is an opportunity. So, let’s step forward together, embracing the imperfect process of becoming the leaders our teams need. On that note, we’ll meet again next time, and until then—keep leading with heart and purpose. Take care.