When A Manager Must Admit He Has Failed

It is always easier to criticize than to recognize.

If you said “yes” to that, take a moment and think about why it is easier for you to criticize than to recognize.

You are not alone.

This truth has been the catalyst for the demise of many friendships, countless marriages, and business relationships.

We are always looking for ways to make things better, faster, more efficient, smarter, bigger, more powerful, etc. You get the picture. In the process of “biggering and biggering” as the Lorax so eloquently puts it, we don’t always take time to recognize current achievements.

Actually, managers really struggle with giving appropriate feedback. So if your manager doesn’t satisfy your need for recognition, realize she probably doesn’t get the recognition she needs either. No excuses, though! We are after “bettering and bettering” ourselves.

Recently, I had to admit that I failed someone. Admitting failure is actually in the manager’s toolbox, albeit it might be buried. It is actually quite rewarding admitting that you have failed as a manager. It is okay to say “I have failed you in this area.” What is wrong with admitting the truth?

People with legitimate and illegitimate issues need to be validated. In the latter, case a manager needs to validate that they have heard what the employee has said. Lack of validation can be so damaging in relationships. We all want to know that we have been heard and that we have the right to feel the way that we do, even if we are dead wrong.

The hardest part about admitting my failure with this person was dealing with the failure itself. Failing is part of succeeding. I know this to be true and I hope you do too. I can’t dwell on the failure or I will become less effective. I can’t ignore the failure or I will really become less effective.

For me, admitting a management failure is not even an option. To do anything less is not truthful and chisels away at my integrity. Working hard to turn the situation around is not always easy. The results are rewarding, however.