When a follower makes a mistake, you as a leader, stand at a crossroad!  To the right you show understanding and empathy.  To the left you drop the proverbial hammer and extract a pound of flesh.  The path you takes tells a lot about you as a leader.  The question you need to ask yourself  is what is your “go to” move when a mistake is made?

The same can be said of organizations.  How the organization behaves when someone makes a mistake is a spotlight on it’s culture.  Is the organization a place where it is safe to make a mistake?  Or is it a place where mistakes get someone’s head put on a stick for the rest of the world to see?  Does the organization live a culture of mercy and grace where followers can make a mistake and still live?

A heavy-handed response might feel like swift discipline, and make you feel like a leader, but it’s not leadership!  These type of reactions are the result of an underlying weakness of the leader or organization.  When your followers fear harsh consequences, they quit taking risks and avoid innovating.  They begin to cover up errors and as a result the mission suffers.

Extending grace isn’t about being soft, but it’s a strategic move that creates a safe environment where people learn from failures instead of continuing to loop through them.

Do the hard stuff and evaluate your responses to the mistakes followers have made.  Have you been trying to punish the past or build toward a better future?  How will you intentionally respond in the future? You have to lead through mistakes.