JVD - @josephdworak

In the past six months I had a moment whereI knew as a leader I had blown it with an employee.  Everything I know, I have been trained in did not kick in and I just did not do a great job with my emotional intelligence and took it out on this person.

It was not the end of the world, but I had blown it.  I had blown it by my own standards.  

My own rules.  I should have know better.  Bam, I did it.  I made a mistake.  

You know what?  I knew it the second I did it - and that made me more frustrated at myself.  What did I do?  I removed myself from the situation, let the emotions run out of me, and went back and apologized.  

What did I say?  I said:

I blew it.
I care about you greatly.
I am sorry.  

Sometimes we just have to admit how we have blown it and say we are sorry.  It may take some guts to admit it to yourself and the person who you need to apologize to, but it is so worth it.

What did I learn about myself in this situation?  

1)  My blind spots as a leader need attention even if they are not my strengths

2)  I need people around me who see things that I do not see

3)  The only way you can move forward after blowing it is to own your mistake and make it right - there is not going back.

I hope this helps someone who might have blown it recently.  We all do it, it is more about how you handle the aftermath.

JVD