Reacting to mistakes...

In rugby, no player drops the ball on purpose.

Think about it: when a teammate fumbles a pass or knocks on, they were likely sprinting, under pressure, and doing everything in their power to help the team move forward. You wouldn't dream of shouting at or belittling them on the pitch for a simple mistake (whether a team mate, captain or coach.) It ruins morale, breaks trust, and kills the momentum.

So why, in the workplace, do some feel it’s acceptable to shout or belittle someone when things go wrong?

In a crisis, panic is a natural reaction, but projecting it onto your team is a choice.

True leaders know that mistakes happen when people are actively trying to win. Instead of pointing fingers, they foster a culture of support.

Imagine a workplace culture where:

Measured risks are encouraged, not feared.

Psychological safety allows people to own up to fumbles instantly so the team can recover together.

Calmness and kindness guide the response to a crisis, rather than blame.

There are no secrets or surprises.

If you want your team to try new things and push for the win, you have to back them up when the ball gets dropped.

How does your team handle the "fumbles"? How you do you react when one of your team makes a mistake?

This is one of my favourite subjects to work through with those I develop in leadership.

#Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #Teamwork #PsychologicalSafety #Management #DP3Consulting