Cultivate trust by admitting faults and asking for advice
Imagine walking into the office after a project delay—and announcing: “My bad. I misread our deadline and held us back.” Pause. Your team is silent, waiting. Then you add, “I’d love to hear your take: what would you do differently next time?”
When you lead with admission, you cut straight through politics and pride. Behavioral science calls this the “self-disclosure effect”: revealing personal missteps triggers reciprocal honesty. Teammates who’ve been holding back suddenly speak up.
Sarah tried this with her design team. She admitted she’d pushed the wrong mock-up to stakeholders. She asked for their fix-it ideas. Within 10 minutes, three fresh sketches emerged. A week later, she credited Alex for the winning concept and shared how it boosted client sign-off.
By admitting fault and asking for help, you build psychological safety. Excellence isn’t about never erring—it’s about learning out loud.
Tomorrow, admit one slip-up and ask your team for solutions—then spotlight the person whose tip you apply. Owning mistakes and valuing advice transforms tension into teamwork. Give it a try at your next check-in.
What You'll Achieve
You’ll strengthen group trust, unlock new ideas, and foster a culture where mistakes fuel growth instead of fear.
Lead with humble transparency
Share one mistake
At your next team meeting, own a recent error and describe what you learned. This models humility and opens the door for others to do the same.
Ask for input
After you share, ask, “How would you handle this if you were in my shoes?” Encourage honest feedback to show you value their wisdom.
Spotlight the wisdom
If a teammate offers a great solution, praise them by name and explain how their advice informs your next steps. Recognition fuels trust.
Follow up with results
Share back to the team in a week how you applied their feedback and what changed. Demonstrating action on their ideas deepens credibility.
Reflection Questions
- What recent mistake am I avoiding admitting?
- Who on my team has insights I haven’t tapped yet?
- How will I demonstrate I’ve applied their feedback?
Personalization Tips
- In a study group, admit you misread a key passage and ask classmates to explain it.
- When parenting, confess a communication slip-up and ask your partner how they would handle the talk.
- In a sports team, own a poor play and ask your coach and teammates for pointers on technique.
The 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization
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