Making bad decisions

We’ve all been there—you’re faced with a tough call, you choose your path, and things don’t work out the way you hoped. It happens to everyone, no matter your role or experience. What you do next, though, is what really matters.

In my last blog, I explored the concept of accountability. Now, let’s talk about what it really means to accept responsibility and own your choices, even when things go sideways.

When things go right at work, it’s tempting for people to step forward and take credit for the win. But let’s be honest, most achievements are team efforts, not solo acts. What’s more telling is how people react when things go wrong. Too often, those quick to take credit are just as quick to shift blame:

Blaming others is easy, but it’s a fast track to eroding trust and damaging team culture. I’ll admit, I used to do the same thing early in my career. What changed for me was a simple piece of advice from a mentor: “Own it.” At first, I thought it was just about being a good leader. Over time, I realized it’s about being a good teammate and a better human. Now, I encourage my teams to “own it” too. Mistakes are inevitable—what matters is recognizing them, taking control, and learning from the experience.

We’re not robots with perfect decision matrices; we’re people navigating complex situations with limited information. Sometimes, external factors derail even the best decisions. When that happens, I still take responsibility, admit what I missed, and use it as a lesson for next time.

Taking ownership of your actions is less stressful and far more productive than playing the blame game.

In Jiu-Jitsu, we talk about the “oh s***” moment—the instant you realize you’ve made a mistake and your opponent capitalizes. It happens in competition, on the mat, and in the workplace. The lesson? Don’t dwell on what went wrong. Instead, analyze the situation, learn from it, and move forward with a new perspective.

At work, whether you made a solo decision or were part of a group, everyone should take responsibility for the outcome. The key is to ensure the team learns and adapts, so that next time, you approach the problem differently.

Ownership isn’t just about admitting mistakes—it’s about taking the high road and having a plan to recover. Sometimes, your boss (not necessarily a leader) may get upset and make things more difficult. Even then, you can hold your head high if you have a plan to address the issue. Always have a Plan B in reserve. You don’t need it fully fleshed out from the start, but thinking ahead helps you respond quickly when things change.

A true leader will support your decisions, work with you on solutions, and help you grow. There’s a well-known story about a VP who sponsored a project that went millions over budget. Expecting to be fired, the VP was instead asked by the CEO, “Did you learn from what happened?” When the VP said yes, the CEO replied, “Good, why would I let you go after spending millions on your education?” That’s leadership.

Bad decisions are part of the journey. What matters is how you and your leaders react. Take ownership, learn, and set the tone for future success.

Let’s talk about how you can foster absolute ownership and resilience in your team. Reach out at jberriault@berriaultandassociates.com, and let’s set your team up for lasting growth.