I recently shared a personally embarrassing story of a silly slip and fall at a water park. While I was not physically hurt, it was ego-bruising for sure. Nonetheless, I stood up, dusted myself off, and faced the waterslide head-on. Sharing this story makes me think of other falls I’ve had in my professional life.
As managers, we run the risk of professionally falling every day. And in one way or another, it is inevitable. Professionally falling means, we have done something outside of our comfort zone. We have taken a risk and tried something new. Maybe we have purchased software to revolutionize client care, but we cannot get it off the ground. Perhaps we selected a new payroll system, but we seriously goofed on setting up the benefit accruals. Oops!
We tried something that did not work, but we tried something new and unchartered for us. Isn’t that what growing as a manager is all about?
I believe that we owe it to ourselves to fall professionally. We need to try new ways of doing things that make us uncomfortable. And when we goof up – and we will – share the blunder with others.
By sharing your failures with others, we are letting them know it is okay if they fall when trying something new, accepting a new responsibility, and navigating a new skill. Innovation does not come without some bumps and bruises.
I also believe there are many benefits to sharing your blunders with your staff in particular– in fact, here are my “Top 5 Reasons to Spill the Beans:”
- Your honesty sets the tone for a culture of accountability and authenticity. Nobody will try to throw someone else under the bus if the manager makes it a point to share their missteps with the team.
- Your mistake provides an excellent catalyst for reviewing or establishing a process that benefits everyone. If the team works through and develops a new approach, it is a tremendous win-win for everyone.
- Your fallings could inspire others to reach beyond their comfort zone or work to develop an untapped skill.
- Someone on your team might have some advice that could prove to be very valuable. I have been pleasantly surprised by how my admission of errors has resulted in my team rallying to help me.
- The team gathering itself is a reason to nosh on something sweet! Need I say more on this?
On Dare to Lead author Brene Brown’s website, she posts a Belonging Statement. The final paragraph of her statement drives home the reason we managers must keep trying, keep professionally falling, and keep sharing our successes and blunders with our team. It reads, “We believe that love, grace, accountability, courage, vulnerability, empathy, shame resilience, and the power of story can change the world.”
If not the world, indeed, our veterinary practice!
Sincerely,
Jessica Speas, CVPM, SPHR, PHR-ca, SHRM-SCP, CCFP
VHMA President
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