What Happens After a Mistake Matters More Than Your Mission Statement

Your team is watching what happens when someone screws up. That moment matters more than your mission statement.

You can have the most inspiring words framed on your office wall. You can deliver a rousing speech about trust and growth. But none of it means anything until someone on your team makes a mistake. That's when your real values are on display.

The Wrong Turn

Here's a scenario I share with staff at the beginning of every summer. Imagine ten guests driving to a party. They're all following the same directions. But a mischievous teenager has reversed one of the street signs, sending each driver down the wrong road just minutes from their destination.

Which guest arrives first?

Not the one with the best car. Not the one who was ahead of the pack. The first person to arrive is whoever realizes the mistake and turns around the quickest.

This applies to everything we do. Every minute spent going the wrong way counts double because eventually you have to retrace your steps. The leaders and teams who recognize and correct their mistakes fastest are usually the most successful.

The Real Test

I've worked with children for over 30 years. Here's what I know for certain: everyone who works with kids will eventually make a mistake. A consequence will be too harsh. A decision will be unfair. A moment will be handled poorly.

When that happens, you have two choices.

The first option is to double down. Insist you were right. Explain away the problem. This is surprisingly common. We tell ourselves that admitting a mistake will undermine our authority. That the team will lose respect for us. That changing course is the same as being weak.

The second option is to turn the car around.

Admit the error. Remedy it directly. Get back on the right track as quickly as possible.

I've tried both approaches over the years. The results aren't close. When I've doubled down on a bad call, the team remembers. They learn that I care more about being right than being fair. When I've admitted a mistake and fixed it, something different happens. They learn that this is a place where people can be honest. Where growth matters more than ego.

What Your Team Actually Learns

Your people are always watching. Not just listening to what you say, but observing how you respond when things go wrong.

When a staff member makes a mistake and you respond with curiosity instead of blame, the whole team notices. When you admit your own error publicly and move to correct it, you're teaching something no training manual can convey. You're showing them that admitting a mistake, just like asking for help, is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Mission statements are easy. They cost nothing. Reacting well to mistakes is hard. It requires setting aside your ego in real time, often when you're stressed or frustrated.

But that hard thing is exactly what builds real trust.

Guideposts Along the Way

The tricky part is that we don't always realize when we've made a wrong turn. That's why we need what I call guideposts. These are checkpoints that help us see when we're off course.

A guidepost might be a gut feeling that something isn't quite right. It might be a question you ask yourself, like "What would the world be like if everyone handled it this way?" Sometimes a guidepost is a trusted colleague who asks if everything is okay, or gently suggests you might want to reconsider.

Whatever form they take, look for your guideposts. They're always there. And they'll tell you when it's time to turn around.

One Thing to Try

This week, pay attention to how you respond when something goes wrong. Not how you think you respond, but what you actually do. When a team member makes an error, when a plan falls apart, when you realize you've made a bad call.

Notice your first instinct. Is it to explain? To blame? To defend?

Then ask yourself: What would it look like to simply acknowledge it and move forward?

Your mission statement tells people what you believe. Your response to mistakes shows them.

About the Author

Matt Kaufman has spent 40 years in summer camp as a camper, counselor, and director, studying what makes people belong, grow, and thrive. He writes about intentional community, leadership, and the intersection of technology and human connection.

Connect with Matt:

• Instagram: @mattlovescamp

• LinkedIn: Matt Kaufman

• Website: ilove.camp

Books by Matt Kaufman:

• The Campfire Effect: How to Engineer Belonging in a Disconnected World (February 2026)

• The Summer Camp MBA: 50 Leadership Lessons from Camp to Career