Is it really Okay to Make Mistakes?

We often say, "It’s okay to make mistakes." But is it, really? Or does it entirely depend on the situation?

Most people are terrified of making mistakes, and for many, this fear runs deeper than just professional anxiety. There’s even a term for it—atelophobia, the excessive fear of being imperfect or making errors. This fear can be so intense that it causes people to overthink, hesitate, and eventually avoid risks altogether.

Now, think about this—how many times in a day do we tell our teams, “It’s okay to make mistakes”? Probably a lot. But how often do we react in a way that truly reassures them that mistakes are a learning process, not a career-ending event?

The Unspoken Reality of Workplace Culture

Many work environments unknowingly create a "save your own skin" culture. A single mistake can invite blame, panic, or worse—public humiliation. So what happens?

? People stop taking ownership

? Innovation suffers

? Fear takes over

And before you know it, the very people you rely on are operating from a place of self-preservation rather than problem-solving.

History has shown us that mistakes aren’t the enemy—fear of them is.

·????? Thomas Edison found 1,000 ways that didn’t work before successfully inventing the light bulb.

·????? Albert Einstein faced rejection before his theory of relativity was accepted.

·????? Elon Musk and SpaceX faced multiple rocket failures before successfully launching Falcon 1 on its fourth attempt in 2008.

But how do we react or behave when something goes wrong in our day-to-day lives? The juniors feel stressed. They feel anxious. And eventually slip into atelophobia – which they don’t even realize they have.

So, am I now in the zone where I am defending the mistakes that I make? The answer is no. While to err is human, to fix that err is also human. The approach you take to fix that error is entirely dependent on how you choose to react or behave with this stimulus. Whatever may be at stake due to that mistake, if you are good enough, you know how to manage it without crushing anyone's respect or confidence.

The Real Issue: It’s Not the Mistake, It’s the Reaction

Making mistakes isn’t the problem—our reaction to them is. The way leaders respond to errors defines the culture of an organization. Do we encourage learning and ownership? Or do we fuel anxiety and avoidance?

The goal isn’t to blindly accept every mistake but to create an environment where people take accountability without fear. A place where instead of shouting to save their own skin, leaders build a system where the need to "save your skin" doesn’t exist in the first place.

So, how am I trying to achieve this?

Actionable Steps for anyone to shift the culture

1?. Replace Blame with Problem-Solving

? Instead of: “Who messed up?” ? Try: “What happened, and how do we fix it?”

Blame puts people on the defensive. A problem-solving approach keeps the focus on solutions rather than self-protection.

2. Model Accountability at the Top

If you want your team to own their mistakes, start by owning yours. Leaders who admit to errors and demonstrate how they correct them build a culture of trust.

3?. Create a ‘Fix-It’ Mindset, Not a ‘Fear-It’ Mindset

When mistakes happen, the first instinct shouldn’t be to cover up—it should be to correct. Have a structured approach:

• What happened? (Understanding the mistake)
• Why did it happen? (Identifying the root cause)
• How do we prevent it next time? (Ensuring it doesn’t repeat)

4?. Avoid Crisis-Mode Leadership

Panic spreads fast. If leaders react with anger or fear, the team will mirror that response. Instead, stay composed—focus on what can be controlled and keep the team centered on solutions.

5?. Balance Freedom with Responsibility

Yes, mistakes are a part of growth, but carelessness is not. Reinforce that while errors are allowed, repeated negligence isn’t. The goal isn’t a free pass—it’s a learning curve.

6?. Recognize Growth from Mistakes

Celebrate when someone fixes a mistake successfully. This rewires the team’s mindset—mistakes aren’t just tolerated; learning from them is encouraged.

The Culture You Build Defines the Future

The best leaders don’t just tell their teams it’s okay to make mistakes—they create an environment where learning from those mistakes is encouraged.

By doing so, they eliminate the ‘saving your ass’ culture and replace it with a ‘learning and growing’ culture.

What’s your approach when mistakes happen in your team? Let me know in the comments. ????

Thanks for reading!

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