Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 4

By Dave Anderson
President,
LearnToLead

// Leadership

The Art of
Handling Mistakes
I recently filmed a
DVD program for my
online training platform on
the topic of handling
mistakes, and the
response was even more
robust than normal. I
believe that's because
handling mistakes-ours
and others'-is such an
ongoing, real-world
leadership responsibility
that affects everyone both
at work and at home. How
you handle your own, and
others,' mistakes also

goes a long way in
determining the level of
trust, buy-in, connection,
and positive impact you
can have on your team.
Following are thoughts
and strategies to help you

master this important
leadership skill. This piece
is divided into two
sections: handling your
own mistakes first, and
then effectively handling
the mistakes others make.

ADDRESS A
MISTAKE IN DIRECT,
PROFESSIONAL
TERMS, WITHOUT
UNNECESSARY DRAMA
OR EXAGGERATION."

PHASE ONE: HOW TO
HANDLE YOUR OWN
MISTAKES

1. ADMIT A
MISTAKE AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE. Waiting

to acknowledge a mistake
gives the perception
you're either oblivious
to what you've done, or
that you may be looking
for a way out of taking
responsibility. As a result,
delayed confessions
allow a hiccup to become
a cover-up, and then a
conspiracy. This perception will break trust and
build disgust amongst the
ranks. Don't try talking
yourself out of something
you behaved yourself into.
Own it. You don't have to
make a big deal out of it,
just own it. The objective
is to bring closure to a
mistake quickly, so you
can focus on moving
forward. As an aside, if
you admit an error, don't
marginalize your effort by
making an excuse for it
(what about "just own it"
don't you understand?).
This models a positive
leadership example your
team will pick up on.
Leaders with bloated
egos or gross insecurities
never manage to execute
this first step. They wrongly believe admitting a
mistake makes them look
weak when the opposite
is true. Admitting mistakes
requires strength, and
earns respect because
others know how difficult
it would be for them to do
Continued on pg. 6

4

JANUARY 2018

D I G I TA L D E A L E R . C O M



http://www.DIGITALDEALER.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Digital Dealer - January 2018

Digital Dealer - January 2018
Contents
The Art of Handling Mistakes
Motion and Commotion – The Buy/Sell Market Intensifies
You Don’t Have to Be Blood to Be Family in the Dealership
Shifting From Crisis to Opportunity
Warning! Your Customers Know More Than Your Salespeople. But Not for Long.
Advertising Your Tech-Spertise!
From the Show Director
Drawing the Curtain Back
Digital Dealer Workshops Chicago
Cover story
Interview with the 2018 Chairman of the Chicago Auto Show
Ready… Fire!...Then Aim
Turning Cash Buyers into Auto
Need a Tech – Keep a Tech or Other Staffer?
The New Car Buyers’ Clinic: A Case Study in How to Royally Mess It up!
The Pros and Cons of Building a Dealership Facebook Page
Is Your Dealership's Advertising Stuck in the '60s?
4 Ways to Sell More Cars in 2018
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - CT1
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - CT2
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - Digital Dealer - January 2018
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - Cover2
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 1
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - Contents
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 3
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - The Art of Handling Mistakes
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 5
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 6
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - Motion and Commotion – The Buy/Sell Market Intensifies
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 8
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 9
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 10
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 11
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - You Don’t Have to Be Blood to Be Family in the Dealership
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 13
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 14
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - Shifting From Crisis to Opportunity
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 16
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 17
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - Warning! Your Customers Know More Than Your Salespeople. But Not for Long.
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 19
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - Advertising Your Tech-Spertise!
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 21
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - From the Show Director
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 23
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 24
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - Drawing the Curtain Back
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 26
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - Digital Dealer Workshops Chicago
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - Interview with the 2018 Chairman of the Chicago Auto Show
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 29
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 30
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 31
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 32
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 33
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - Ready… Fire!...Then Aim
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 35
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - Turning Cash Buyers into Auto
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 37
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - Need a Tech – Keep a Tech or Other Staffer?
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 39
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 40
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - The New Car Buyers’ Clinic: A Case Study in How to Royally Mess It up!
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 42
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - The Pros and Cons of Building a Dealership Facebook Page
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 44
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - Is Your Dealership's Advertising Stuck in the '60s?
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 46
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 47
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - 4 Ways to Sell More Cars in 2018
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - Cover3
Digital Dealer - January 2018 - Cover4
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