What's your number one question about personal development?


Empowering Leadership: Letting Go Of Perfectionism - Embrace 'I Give My People Space To Make Mistakes'

By Jose Lizama

Updated on Sunday 21st of May 2023

What's your number one question about self-improvement?


In today's world, leadership has become an integral part of every organization. It's not easy to stand out as a leader, and even more difficult to lead teams efficiently and effectively. Leaders are under constant pressure to deliver results quickly and efficiently, and their success is often measured by their ability to fill their team's capabilities, meeting the targets, and strong decision-making skills. However, it's essential to remember that mistakes are an inevitable part of the process, and micromanaging or being overly critical of employees' errors can demotivate, reduce job satisfaction, and lower their morale.

The good news is that there is a better approach to leading your team - by affirming and empowering each individual on your team to learn and grow. By embracing the phrase "I give my people space to make mistakes," you'll create a work environment where each of your employees feels empowered and supported to take on risks and learn. In this blog post, we'll discuss how to implement this affirmation in your leadership style and the many benefits it brings to you and your team.

One of the significant benefits of affirming your employees to take risks and accept potential failure is an increase in innovation. When employees feel like they have the freedom to put their ideas into action and know that they won't be chastised for potential small bumps in the road, they feel more confident in their work. They'll invest more of their energy into novel solutions to existing challenges, which can lead to more profound and game-changing advances than you ever imagined.

Just imagine how effective your team can be if they're not afraid of making mistakes and coming forward with their bold ideas! They're more likely to come to you, their leader, with great ideas. And when they do, your leadership style should be to support their decision-making abilities while staying involved enough to ensure the project's smooth execution.

Another benefit is the effect on employee retention and overall job satisfaction. Employees are more likely to stay with an organization that doesn't punish them for their mistakes. If they know they won't be condemned for failing, they'll be more comfortable suggesting and trying new ways. They'll have higher job satisfaction and stronger loyalty to the company overall. In the long run, this will lead to a more stable workforce that produces high-quality work consistently.

However, enabling your employees to make mistakes isn't a license to be sloppy. Setting clear expectations and accountability frameworks will help your team understand what is within the bounds of acceptable risk-taking or not. Balancing this measurement and granting employees the freedom to pursue their ideas is a potent blend that can yield fantastic results.

As a leader, you should model this affirmation. One way for a leader to demonstrate this mentality is to talk about and share their past setbacks and learnings openly. This behavior is quite positive in encouraging employees to take risks by showing that failure is not a personal worth statement and instead an opportunity for growth. Leaders who walk the talk create a psychologically safe work environment where mistakes are acceptable, and people feel empowered.

In conclusion, empowering employees to fail and take risks demonstrates trust and respect towards their autonomy and helps foster a better and more innovative work culture. Companies and teams that embrace failure as an opportunity for growth can create an intelligent and resilient workforce that is continually improving its outcomes. By taking the time to practice the affirmation, "I give my people space to make mistakes," as a leader, you will find your workplace becomes more productive, with your employees growing more skilled and becoming creative thinkers, producing breakthrough ideas.

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