Own the Wrong Call
- Cristina Stensvaag
- Feb 17
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 22
Admitting a wrong call doesn't hurt your credibility. Ignoring it does.
February 17, 2026
Originally published in One More Rep, a weekly newsletter for people managers who want to get better through practice. Subscribe here — it's free.
What happens when the 48-hour follow-up tells you you're wrong? This is how you build resilience.
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The Moment
You made the decision. You followed up (good!). And you learned it's not working. People are confused, the project is stalling, you misread the situation. Now you're in the part where you know you made the wrong call, but you haven't said it out loud.
The Pattern
Admitting a mistake doesn't damage your credibility. What does is obvious wrongness that you don't acknowledge.
The question isn’t whether you were wrong. It’s whether you’ll own it.
When you avoid owning it, you teach your team that being right > being effective, and that is how fragility is built. Instead, build resilience.
Why This Matters
Trust comes from owning imperfect decisions, not from making perfect ones. The leaders people trust most aren't the ones who never get it wrong. People trust leaders who say "I got this wrong, here's what I'm changing."
Rep
This Week's Practice
Identify a decision that isn’t working, and own it.
What you got wrong
What you're learning
What you're changing
Template:
“I made the call to [decision]. It’s not working. Here’s what I'm seeing: [specific data]. Here’s what I’m learning: [insight]. Here’s what I'm changing: [adjustment]. I’ll update you by [time].”
Your rep:
1 wrong decision owned
1 adjustment made
1 follow-up sent within 48 hours
What to Notice
Resistance looks like:
“It made sense at the time…"
Blaming external factors
Changing direction without saying it
The half-ownership: “Maybe that wasn't the best approach…”
It's working when:
You can say “I was wrong” without spiraling (you've built resilience)
Your team brings problems earlier (they know it is ok)
People offer help or ideas (they were waiting for permission)
The team moves faster (they weren't sure if they could act)
Reflect
If you have had a hard time owning a wrong decision, think about what you were protecting:
Your ego?
Your reputation?
Your illusion of certainty?
What did that protection cost? If you recovered from a wrong decision this quickly every time, how would you lead differently?
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Cristina Stensvaag is co-founder of LeaderReps and creator of One More Rep, a weekly practice-based leadership newsletter for people managers.