Ever say something you instantly wished you could take back?
You know the feeling: your stomach drops, the room goes silent, and you are filled with regret, not only for what you said but how you delivered it!
I recently spoke with a leader who found herself in that exact situation. She overreacted to a team member in front of the entire team. It wasn’t pretty. The second it happened, she wanted to take it back, but instead, she shut down and walked out. She beat herself up, made excuses, and let embarrassment take over.
But here’s the truth: These moments don’t define you; the way you recover does.
Leadership isn’t about being perfect. It’s about owning your mistakes and rebounding with grace.
Do You Control your Circumstances or Do you let them control you?
When your emotions take over, you tend to react in ways that don’t align with who you are or how you want to be known as a leader. The question is: Do you let these moments dictate your behaviour, or do you take charge and course-correct?
Here’s how to recover from a leadership misstep with confidence.
Step 1: Hit the PAuse ButtoN
💬 “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used to create them.” — Albert Einstein
First, you need to regain your composure. If you just lost your temper in a meeting, call for a short break or excuse yourself for five minutes.
✔ Take deep breaths to calm your nervous system.
✔ Acknowledge the emotion, whether it’s anger, frustration, or embarrassment.
✔ Remind yourself: You are not your emotions. You’re simply experiencing them.
This pause keeps you from making the situation worse. It also gives you a chance to process and reset.
stEp 2: Own it – immediately
The worst thing you can do. Ignore it!
Your team will talk about what happened. The only question is: What will they be saying?
If you don’t address it, the only story that gets told is: “Wow, our leader lost their cool.”
Instead, take charge of the narrative. It could sound like:
👉 “I want to acknowledge how I overreacted just now. It isn’t okay, and I take full responsibility.” Your team will respect you more for facing it head-on rather than pretending it didn’t happen
stEp 3: Apologize – no excuses
An authentic apology is short, direct, and free of justifications.
🚫 Don’t say:
❌ “I’m sorry, but I was frustrated because…”
❌ “If you hadn’t said __________ I wouldn’t have reacted that way.”
✅ Instead, say:
✔ “I apologize for overreacting and the impact that had on all of you. It was unprofessional.”
✔ “I’m sorry [team member] and to everyone here for my inappropriate reaction. Let’s take a breath and continue.”
If the energy in the room still feels awkward, ask:
👉 “What else do you need from me now to clear the air and move forward?”
This small question invites dialogue and helps repair trust.
💡 Bonus: Follow up privately with the individual involved. Apologize one-on-one and set expectations for the future.
Lead by example
As a leader, you don’t simply tell people how to behave; you show them.
Everyone makes mistakes. What sets great leaders apart is how they recover.
✨ Lose your cool? Own it.
✨ Make a mistake? Apologize.
✨ Feel embarrassed? Learn, reset, and move forward.
By handling mistakes with grace, you give your team permission to do the same.
your turn
👉 Think back to a time when emotions got the best of you. What was the hardest part of rebounding: pausing, owning it, or apologizing?
💡 Now, challenge yourself: Practice that behaviour in smaller moments, even when the stakes are low. The more you do it, the easier it becomes when it really matters!
Ready to Elevate Yourself and Your Leadership Style?
At Authentic Leaders Edge, we help professionals like you develop a powerful leadership presence. Whether you’re leading a team or defining your personal brand, Dorothy Lazovik provides tailored coaching to accelerate your growth.
Book a complimentary 30-minute consultation to explore how coaching can help you step into your full potential. Email today to get started!
