Who Says I’m Not Perfect?

by Jon Hodgin

March 27, 2025

I admit it, I’m not a perfect leader. In fact, perfection in any aspect of life is something I will never attain, and I’ve come to terms with that. Embracing my imperfections is crucial to my growth as a leader, and I believe it’s an essential aspect of guiding team members, companies, and families effectively. 

Last year I went through a challenging period where I felt stretched to my limit with seemingly never-ending demands within my department, from clients, and through random, additional tasks. Honestly, I was struggling. During that period, I had a client with a simple IT issue to resolve. They asked I personally address the issue rather than delegate to my staff. Because I felt so stretched, I tried a shortcut to resolve the issue and ended up paying the price. They’re still a client, but I’m not sure if they’ll stay. I botched it, and not just with a staff member in that company but with a senior leader. 

We were able to salvage that relationship, but in my mind it will go down as one of my worst mistakes. As it was, I felt like stepping down. In all my career, I had not made a mistake like this on such a simple task. “How could I have done something so stupid?” was a question that kept me up at night.

After some reflection, I chose to share this vulnerable moment with my team. I chose not to learn the lesson in isolation, but to share the struggle, show the failure, and relate to the team as the imperfect leader that I am. I did not hand the problem off to my team. I still worked the issue to the point of resolution and communicated with the client, but I continued to communicate with my team where I was in the process of cleaning up the mess I made for myself. They had insight into solutions that I had not considered, and their help was invaluable to fixing this problem. 

An amazing thing happened. They began to share more freely in areas where they were struggling. We became more of a team by connecting through our failures and lifting each other up. The results of sharing that failure paid great dividends, and I know it will continue to pay forward.

It’s not just me saying this. A 2022 study by the Fisher Leadership Institute at Ohio State University found the same thing. Their research proved that leaders who own up to their errors and avoid the false image of perfection are more effective overall. Admitting mistakes demonstrates humility, a critical leadership quality we all want our bosses to have. This translates, according to the study, to improved team performance and a desire to continuously improve.

As the leader, I never want to present myself as someone who is out of reach or aspirational. I want others to recognize the efforts and not reach for perfection, but to genuinely pursue excellence.

I believe that being honest about failures and shortcomings is a vital part of that pursuit. We must foster an environment of trust and transparency. I want my team members to know that making mistakes is a natural part of life. Poet Thomas Jones wrote, “To err, is human; to recover, is Angelic; to persevere is Diabolical.” We will make mistakes, we should own up to them, and we must learn from them and keep going.

In John Maxwell’s book, Failing Forward, he challenged leaders to share their failures to encourage a culture of learning from our mistakes rather than sweeping them under the rug or passing them off to the next guy. The principle worked as in my organization. We created a space where innovation and risk-taking are encouraged and we grow together, agreeing that failure is not the end, but an opportunity to improve. Admitting my flaws and failures doesn’t make me a weaker leader; it makes me more approachable and relatable. 

My team sees that I’m human, and that together, we can work through challenges and find solutions. Sharing mistakes builds trust through honest communication, which is crucial for effective leadership. Only through this trust can we build a cohesive and productive team, where every member feels valued and understood.

“Great leaders don’t try to be perfect, they try to be themselves … and that’s what makes them great.” Simon Sinek

Jon Hodgin is Vice President of Information Technology for TDS IT in Northwest Arkansas. Jon thrives on helping others succeed. In 1998 he began his career in technology with a vendor for a global retailer. Since 2006 he’s been with TDS IT and is working to build the managed technology services division of the company. When he is not at work he might be found enjoying time with his family, wandering in the Ozarks, or out on his kayak looking for rapids or fish that might be biting.

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