Why Leaders Should Rethink the Way They Handle Mistakes

Success and failure dominate the business conversation, but what about mistakes? In their new book ‘Mistakes to Meaning’, Former Treasury Secretary Chief of Staff Joshua Steiner and former Sony executive Michael Lynton examine the difference between failures and mistakes. Lynton revisits the decision to greenlight The Interview, which led to the Sony cyberattack. Steiner reflects on his own early lesson: as a young Chief of Staff to Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen, he was subpoenaed in the Whitewater investigation after candid notes he kept became public. They discuss why people hide mistakes, why that instinct backfires, and how confronting errors can ultimately strengthen leadership. (Source: Bloomberg)