“The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.”

~Theodore Roosevelt

Why is it that we (that I) get so hung up on the mistakes we make? Or even sometimes on the mistakes that others make around us. What is this notion that somehow resides inside us that has convinced us that mistakes are bad? How have we learned to have no compassion for ourselves and others?

I hear this lack of compassion from my coaching clients – they beat themselves mercilessly and sometimes beat those around them as well. I hear this lack of compassion from my children (though I’ll swear they didn’t learn it from me). I hear this lack of compassion from angry drivers, impatient store customers, bosses and supervisors, direct reports. We easily throw around blame – of ourselves and others – when someone makes “A MISTAKE.”

Teddy Roosevelt had a great point. The only people who don’t make mistakes are those who sit on their duffs and do nothing. Simply by putting ourselves out there, by trying new things, by involving ourselves in the world… we are setting ourselves up to make mistakes. And if we don’t make mistakes, we’re probably not doing anything at all.

Where has the fear of a mistake stopped you from doing something?
When was the last time you allowed yourself to easily make a mistake? Please leave a comment to share.

If you enjoyed this post, you can read more like it in our book, The Power of Thoughtful Leadership: 101 Minutes To Being the Leader You Want To Be, available on Amazon.

For support in making mistakes well, contact Robyn at rmcleod@chatsworthconsulting.com.

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