Accountability of Self | If You Screw Up Just Own It

If you screw up, just own it. If hypocrisy is the one of the greatest credibility killers there is, then on the other side of the coin, owning your mistakes and apologizing is the one of the biggest credibility boosters.

We have this ridiculous thinking in the world, that if we open up and admit we made a mistake, it somehow shows people we are weak. The opposite is actually the case. When you do this, you actually don't show weakness but rather, great strength.

Think about it; it takes way more guts to be open and vulnerable than closed off and in-accessible. People respond to and gravitate towards people who are strong and honest.

No one wants to be part of a relationship or follow a leader who plays the blame game or refuses to admit when they are wrong. Personally, I have built more credibility with my kids, my wife, my friends, and with my teams over time by simply owning and acknowledging my mistakes and apologizing.

**FREE** Applying The Mortar - Accountability of Self Webinar

November 15, 2023, 3:00 – 3:30 PM|Webinar

Register Now

Looking at someone and doing this with an open and sincere heart and saying, “I screwed up, I'm sorry, here's what I'm going to do differently in the future or here's what I'm going to do to fix it.” takes courage, and we just learned how important that is when it comes to credibility.

I don’t know of two more powerful words in the world than the words “I’m sorry”. It means the world to people to hear that.

Ultimately, at the end of the day, people follow others who have integrity so when you own your mistakes, you're owning your own behavior. This is the essence of accountability of self.

It shows people that you have integrity and people gravitate to teams, leaders, and individuals who have integrity. It turns you into a magnet and you end up attracting the best people, drawing them to you.

Integrity builds trust which in turn builds respect and once people trust and respect you then the sky's the limit.

You cannot win people's eyes, ears, and hearts without first earning their trust and respect. Once you do this, that is when the real magic happens because it is only at this point that you are able to lead people to great heights or enact immense change.

Last, by doing this you are going to have happier, more fulfilling relationships in life. Again, whether this is with your spouse, your kids, your friends, or your team, if you do these things, every single relationship you have in your life is going to be that much more fulfilling and rewarding because of how people view you.