Real leaders reflect on and learn from their mistakes.
I recently heard one of the finest choral leaders I know speak about his career. In that reflection, he acknowledged that he had moments when he had made a wrong choice, let someone down, or hurt someone he was meant to lead and nurture.
He described processing those experiences with his wife, who reminded him that “You can’t unring the bell.” All you can do is take the lesson when it’s given, process it, and use it to be a better leader in the future.
If you do it right, the bell will keep ringing in your ear, reminding you to make a better choice next time.
Doing it right means:
- Accepting responsibility
- Processing the lesson
- Carrying the memory into your future leadership
Happy 80th birthday to the inimitable Duane Davis. I’ve been deeply blessed to experience your leadership.