Is It Really Okay to Make Mistakes?

I don’t know about you, but I am nowhere near perfect! I know, I know, this may seem obvious. Then tell me why, as educators and leaders, we sometimes feel the need to cover our mistakes so they are not known? Why do we feel a need to be “perfect” in front of our students and colleagues? First, God always knows each and every mistake we make; we cannot hide from Him. Second, making mistakes is part of the learning and improvement process; and we should all be striving to learn and improve. Third, I am here to argue that making mistakes as an educator or leader may not be as bad as we think; and may, in fact, actually be beneficial to others. 

I think it goes without saying that we should all be striving to do our best for the Lord in all that we do, and this includes trying to avoid making mistakes. However, I suggest that when we do make mistakes, we do not try to cover them up; but, instead, we use them as teachable moments. Part of my job as an educator or leader is to model the type of behavior I want to see in others. So why would this not apply to rectifying an error that was made? Rather than covering up our mistakes, I suggest that we model how to own up to our mistakes, apologize, and make amends. I think it is good for our students to see how we as educators handle our own shortcomings. We can model how an apology is more than just saying “sorry.” We can model asking for forgiveness and offering steps to correct the damage made by the mistake. I feel that modeling what to do when a mistake is made is an important lesson for others to see.

We need to get it out of our heads that apologizing to our students or fellow teachers somehow makes us a failure. On the contrary, I think it makes us more relatable. I think it is important for others to see that we are not perfect; that we do mess up sometimes. I feel that this makes us more “human” in their eyes. I know that I have been guilty of thinking that those in authority are perfect, or close to perfect. I know it has made me hesitant to go to them for advice when I have made mistakes. I did not want to admit to them that I had done wrong or made an error. However, that hesitancy and avoidance seemed to dissolve once I had seen and realized that they too could make mistakes. Their making a mistake seemed to make allowance for my own shortcomings. I instantly felt as if the lines of communication were made available to me. I know that I want others to feel comfortable talking to me, and if admitting that I make mistakes can make me seem more relatable to them, then that is what I want to do. I want others to view me as what I am, just another sinner saved by grace trying to do the best I can for God. 

You know, we all sin (Romans 3:23), which means we all make mistakes. I want my students to know that I am subject to making mistakes every bit as much as they are. I want my fellow teachers to know the mistakes I have made in teaching, in hopes that this knowledge will help them not to make the same mistakes as I have. Do you feel the same way? Then we need to stop hiding our mistakes; and, instead, start using them as teachable moments by modeling the best way to handle them and allowing ourselves to be seen as the imperfect people that we are.