The Mistake Locker

Many of us, maybe even most of us, have been through some sort of leadership development training. Those sessions are good and necessary and important. They give us a foundation, and models and a common language.

But the ones that really stick, are the lessons you gained through experience, especially when you've blown it.

Think back about your own leadership journey and an occasion where you totally got it wrong. (there are many in my mistake locker).

You remember those moments like they happened yesterday.

Why is that?

Because it is not academic. It goes deep because it carries consequence. It impacted real people with real outcomes.

But if you are paying attention and allow, it changes your behavior for the better.

It sharpens your judgement, deepens your humility, informs future decisions.

That's the difference between studying leadership and carrying it.