How many mistakes has your team made in the last month? I hope the answer is more than zero. In this issue, we’ll discuss an important aspect of growth—understanding the difference between mistakes and mediocrity; and a quick litmus test you can use right away to help you build a team and culture where people grow and innovate.
Plus, our exclusive March Team Building offer – only 3 spots available!
🧠 LEARN something.
Mistakes are unintentional—born from oversight, inexperience, or misjudgment. They happen to everyone, and they mean you and your team are learning, growing, and pushing boundaries. If everything is flawless every time, I’d question whether you’re truly stepping outside your comfort zone—whether there’s room for experimentation, improvement, and real growth. Because in reality, a culture that sees mistakes as learning opportunities and fosters psychological safety is a culture that drives high performance. By the way, don’t fall for the common go-to argument that “in some jobs, mistakes can’t happen.” Believe me, I’ve been an engineer, a naval architect, a military officer handling explosives, ammunition, and mission-critical systems—and I’ve been a firefighter. I get when mistakes have consequences. But holding a high standard is not the same as punishing learning mistakes. The two are often conflated. So what happens in a culture where mistakes are punished, and everyone fears getting it wrong? Something worse than mistakes—mediocrity.
While mistakes are unintentional, mediocrity is a pattern of subpar performance—a conscious or subconscious decision to play it safe, avoid risks, and settle for the comfort of the known. In today’s world, where technology and business are evolving at an unprecedented pace, can you really afford a culture that stifles experimentation, improvement, or appropriate risk-taking? Probably not. You, as the leader, need to drive that. Trust your gut—you know your people better than anyone else. You’ll recognise when it’s a mistake that requires patience, coaching, and support. Just like you’ll know when it’s mediocrity and complacency that need to be called out to keep your team growing and rejecting the status quo. Because if mediocrity takes hold, it spreads fast—dragging everyone down while your top performers start looking elsewhere.
🤔 REFLECT on an idea.
This is one of my all-time favourite quotes—a powerful reminder that the culture and standards we set for our teams aren’t just shaped by what we say or ‘preach’ but by what we allow and ‘let slide’. It’s always easier to walk past something than to address it—but that’s exactly where we, as leaders, need to show up.
😊 SMILE a little.
Employer: “We encourage trying new things and learning from our mistakes!”
Also the Employer: Implements 27 approval steps, just to be on the safe side. 😂
✅ DO IT to get results.
Next time someone on your team makes a mistake, take a moment to give it a quick “mistake or mediocrity” litmus test and ask yourself:
- Was this a lack of competence or skill? → Train or mentor them.
- Did this uncover an opportunity to improve? → Celebrate it.
- Was this due to unclear expectations? → Clarify or explain.
- Was there a lack of ownership and accountability? → Set clear expectations.
- Did they lack confidence or self-efficacy? → Coach them.
- Is this a pattern (culture) of sub-par behaviour? → Call it out.
🌱 How we can support you.
We provide strategic leadership solutions tailored to align with your business strategy, size, and budget. We can support your with:
- 1:1 Leadership and Performance Coaching
- Team Coaching, for high performing teams)
- 1:1 Health & Lifestyle Coaching for busy stressed leaders.
- Workshops, offsites and team development.
- Ask about our flagship Leadership Coaching Programs!
Kenny Bhosale
CEO & Founder, The Bridge Leaders
