Too often in gratitude posts we think about the here and the now. Specifically, the people and situations that make life better. However, too often, we don’t think enough about the missteps that teach us.
Earlier this year at the American Marketing Association’s Higher Ed Symposium, I shared a mistake I made as a leader. I was surprised many people appreciated hearing about that moment and felt seen for the mistakes they had made.
As it’s a season of gratitude, I’m trying to reflect more on the mistakes I’ve made and how grateful for what I’ve learned from those experiences, even if it wasn’t pleasant at the time.
Budget Woes
I shared this at the American Marketing Association, but I messed up the budget the first time I managed a budget. I was too focused on the fun part of leadership and not budgeting. It doesn’t come naturally to me, and I didn’t want to spend much time on it. By the time I figured it out, I was over $10,000 over budget. I had to own that situation and make some tough cuts to make it work. However, it taught me early the value of budgeting, and I am better because of the experience.
Taking Monkeys
As a new leader, I wanted to be liked. Because of that, I volunteered to take on needs the team had at the moment. It meant that I spent most of my day working on the team’s projects and not enough time on my own projects. To get my work done, I was working until 10 p.m. every night. It wasn’t sustainable. I learned through this mistake that I need to spend my time coaching and supporting the team instead of doing the work. I had to figure out how to give the monkeys back and reset expectations to keep them at bay. I still struggle with this, but this early mistake helped me recognize the impact of scope creep and better look for it.
Reacting too Quickly
The work of creatives is deeply personal. When critique comes in that’s overly harsh or even rude, it stings. As a new leader, I took it personally and reacted in frustration. Nothing good came of that situation. It just created more frustration. However, it reinforced the adage my mother said — “you catch more flies with honey.” Because of that specific situation, I often take a few minutes before responding when I’m frustrated. I’ve also learned the value of building collaboration, which helps to build relational capital to have the broader conversations about working together successfully.
What Mistakes Are You Thankful For?
While way less pleasant than the wins, I think mistakes often teach us so much! What mistakes are you thankful for because of how you’ve learned from them? If you have examples you’re willing to share, drop your thoughts in the comments, and we can keep the conversation going.
And Carrie On 