When Leadership Fails: Turning Public Criticism into Personal Growth

There’s a moment in my career that I’ll never forget. It was a moment full of derision, public humiliation, and bullying delivered by the most senior leader in the marketing organization.

Our entire marketing team of 40+ people had gathered in Miami, Florida for a two day meeting. At the end of the second day, everyone was packing up their laptops. My direct manager and the CMO approached me as I was leaving. The CMO asked me a question about a marketing plan I was developing to support an important business unit. I responded with high-level information about the current status and information I was waiting on from the business to complete it. I provided her with the dates by which it would be done and when I would present it to the business unit leadership team. ?The CMOs response was to paraphrase a few of the sentences I had spoken in a mocking tone of voice and a smirk on her face. Her ending comment was “better not screw it up”. ?All of this was done in the presence of my direct manager – who said nothing – and about 10 other people who were still in the room. ?

Rather than react to the bullying, I put on what I hoped was a poker face and said that I didn’t plan on screwing anything up and that I’d share the plan with her beforehand. I then grabbed my bag and left the conference room.

I think about this moment a lot. It is everything I do not want to be as people leader. Or a colleague for that matter. Here are some lessons that can be learned from this leadership fail. ?

1. The Impact of Public Criticism

Criticism, when delivered in a public setting, can cut deeper than we realize. It can leave scars on a person’s confidence and create a rift between colleagues, and direct reports and leaders. A true leader understands that feedback, especially when it’s critical, should be given in a way that maintains the dignity of the person receiving it. I always say, praise in public, criticize in private.

Had this particular leader chosen to address their concerns privately and in a better way, the outcome could have been very different. Instead, their public mockery eroded trust and damaged my morale and likely that of everyone who witnessed the interaction.

2. The Importance of Psychological Safety

Psychological safety is essential for any team to thrive. When people feel safe, they’re more likely to contribute ideas, take risks, be creative and more productive. However, when a leader bullies someone in public, it destroys that sense of safety for everyone. In the immediate aftermath of that meeting, I found myself second-guessing my ideas and hesitating to speak up. It’s an important reminder that leaders have a responsibility to create an environment where everyone feels safe to share their thoughts without fear of ridicule.

3. Modeling Respectful Behavior

Leaders set the tone for how their teams interact. When a senior leader behaves disrespectfully, it sends a message that such behavior is acceptable. This can quickly lead to a breakdown in team culture, as people begin to mimic what they see. Respect is not just a nicety—it’s a fundamental component of a healthy, productive workplace. A leader who mocks others models the exact opposite behavior they need in their teams.

Not all leadership lessons come from positive experiences. Sometimes, the most valuable lessons come from seeing what not to do. That day, I learned a great deal about the kind of leader I didn’t want to be. I try to never make anyone feel the way I felt in that moment. I share this story not to dwell on the past, but to highlight the importance of leading with empathy, respect, and integrity. We all have the power to choose the kind of leader we want to be. Choose wisely.

I appreciate you and the time you took to read this article. You can find more articles like this on my blog, The Truth About Marketing. Follow me here on LinkedIn or on X (formerly Twitter) @rwhitecabbell for more insightful content related to B2B marketing.