When the Leader Accepts the Blame

Do you remember the entry-level job you held when you began your career? Most of your responsibility was likely grunt work, menial tasks.

If you performed these well, you gained more assignments and started to move up the professional ladder. Each undertaking created nervous energy, as you didn't want to make a mistake knowing that your future depended on perfect execution.

Last week, the Texas A&M men's basketball team was scheduled to play against the University of Florida, its first Southeastern Conference game of the year.

But before it began, A&M was assessed a one-shot technical foul — giving Florida a 1-0 lead.

Why did the penalty occur?

The Texas A&M equipment staff mistakenly left the Aggies' uniforms at the team hotel, causing a delay to the start of the game. Because of their forgetfulness, the team paid the price.

A&M Head Coach Buzz Williams, once a young manager and graduate assistant in charge of uniforms, later took ownership of the mishap.

"I forgot the jerseys in my hotel room," he said after the game. "That's probably the right way to say it because I used to be a manager. If that would have happened, my head coach would have stuck up for me. You don't want the jerseys to get wrinkled so they hang them in my room, and I just forgot to put them on the bus.

"It's my fault and it won't happen again."

Williams was admittedly protecting his student managers. But with his words, he really did what any great leader does when a problem occurs: he stood in front of his team and accepted the blame.

As the CEO of A&M basketball, Williams must assume responsibility for any and everything. By doing so, he holds himself accountable, thus making every member of his team hold themselves accountable as well when things go awry.

The demonstration of admitting a mistake by Williams is healthy and a true indication of how to strengthen a leadership position.

There are typically four benefits of acknowledging a mistake:

1. Admitting our mistakes is the fastest path to moving past them. Williams defused the problem. No longer was anyone looking for someone to blame.

2. You won’t lose respect, you’ll gain it.

3. Learning from mistakes teaches everyone, while helping the leader grow. Williams is a leader who frequently preaches growth and development. This gave him the opportunity to show those he leads the fastest way to develop.

4. Assuming the responsibility makes you a ThoughtfulLeader. Having been a manager himself, Williams understands their anguish over the mistake. Williams didn't forget what he felt like as a young coach trying to learn from his craft.

A&M went on to beat Florida, 66-63.

But their biggest win of the day came from what Williams taught his team: Be responsible and never forget how it all began.