Can We Have More Mistakes Please?

Being honest about our mistakes encourages honesty in others.

In his book Men and Structures Norwegian writer Jens Wilhelmsen tells of a visit of former Soviet leader Nikita Krushchev to Norway in 1964. Norway's Prime Minister, Einar Gerhardsen, had taken note that during Krushchev's preceding visits to neighbouring Denmark and Sweden, whenever he was shown some aspect of which his hosts were particularly proud, he would respond by asserting that such things were just as good, if not better, in the Soviet Union. At one stage of the Oslo visit, Gerhardson deliberately took his guest through some of the most run-down and dirty parts of the city. He explained to the Soviet leader that it was just too bad that areas like this still existed, but the Norwegians simply had not had the resources to improve them. Krushchev, it appears, had been quiet for a while and then responded, "Actually, its just as bad in the Soviet Union."

This unaccustomed frankness on Krushchev's part was, I suppose, a knee-jerk response to the disarming honesty displayed by his host. In similar vein I recall a Finnish business man telling of his experience in taking a small international team of colleagues to conduct a seminar for young entrepreneurs in one of the newly independent Baltic states. In the morning his team had given a general presentation of business principles and different methods and approaches. In the afternoon they decided on a more informal session where each recalled some of the mistakes they had made in their business careers. When those attending the seminar were asked the next day what other aspects they would like the visiting facilitators to cover, there was an immediate chorus, "tell us more of your mistakes".

I was reminded of these two stories when reading reports of a recent White House press conference given jointly by President Bush and British Prime Minister Blair. During the conference each were moved to reflect on some of the mistakes they had made in the years since the invasion of Iraq. The President admitted that, looking back, perhaps some of the more macho language he had used in public hadn't helped. And he gave some very specific examples. Saying that he wanted the fleeing Iraqi leadership captured, "dead or alive" was, he conceded, perhaps a bit strong. Equally misjudged was his remark, "bring it on" when he was first warned about the emerging insurgency. "This kind of tough talk, you know, that sent the wrong signal to people. I learned some lessons in expressing myself in a little more sophisticated manner." Prime Minister Blair was less strong on detail, but admitted that the broad decision to strip most members of Sadam Hussein's Baath Party of their positions in government and civil life was wrong. It had left most institutions in Iraq shorn of expertise and leadership.

In a radio interview reported in the British press the same day, the Prime minister's wife, Cherie Blair, said that, although she was willing to learn from her mistakes, she would never admit them openly. "I don't own up to them publicly," she said. "I am never really in a situation where it gets to that." She did come quite close to making a public apology after a particular faux pas in 2002. "I am juggling with a lot of balls," she explained. "Sometimes some of them get dropped."

Of course the owning-up-to-mistakes business is not just for leaders but includes us all. It may open up unexpected doors, but it's never easy when it comes down to it. I discovered this early on while I was undergoing basic training for my two-year stint in the army. We were out on the parade ground and (the unforgivable sin) I dropped my rifle to the floor with a thud. The Sergeant Major immediately bawled out one of the usual suspects, giving him the (very) sharp edge of his tongue. Going up to this formidable figure afterwards with a nervous "Please Sergeant Major it wasn't X, it was me" was one of the hardest things I can remember doing.

Honesty is infectious. Being honest about our mistakes encourages honesty in others. So come on President Bush and Tony Blair and all our politicians and business leaders – can we have more mistakes please?

NOTE: Individuals of many cultures, nationalities, religions, and beliefs are actively involved with Initiatives of Change. These commentaries represent the views of the writer and not necessarily those of Initiatives of Change as a whole.