Why the Best Leaders Own Their Mistakes

Author

Benjamin Friedman
November 11, 2025

Morning beehiivcommunity!

This newsletter turns experience into lessons for your startup. As a strategy and execution partner for visionary founders, we help sharpen leadership skills and unlock growth potential.

From ‘Sorry’ to Stronger: The Power of Repair

"What matters most is that you take responsibility for what went wrong, give a rationale for why it happened, and commit to acting to repair trust." – Adam Grant

Founders make constant decisions with limited information. Sometimes we get it wrong. Sometimes we make a good decision that unexpectedly backfires later. Effective apologies can transform setbacks into opportunities for repair, growth, and a stronger team culture.

A sincere apology restores trust, fosters positive relationships, and models the kind of culture that attracts growth-minded people to your team. When you take that kind of responsibility, it shows a commitment to integrity rather than perfection. 

By contrast, refusing to apologize or delivering a weak, defensive apology like "sorry if you were offended" can fracture relationships, damage credibility, and hurt morale.

Leaders who apologize sincerely are seen as confident, self-aware, and trustworthy, paving the way for real repair and collaboration. This post breaks down a great apology and talks about when to apologize.

Table: Meet for Practical Insights and Real Connections

Since 2019, Table (formerly Startup Lean Coffee) has brought together over 1,100 founders, advisors, and investors to collaborate monthly and foster growth.

Each session, participants present topics, vote on them, and discuss. Every five minutes, we decide whether to continue or move to the next topic. This dynamic process keeps things moving, encourages full participation, and turns questions into insights and actionable next steps.

Discover proven tactics, useful resources, and new ways of solving problems. Connect with other engaged members of the startup ecosystem. There's a seat waiting for you.

Register for our next event HERE. 

Lowenstein Sandler kindly sponsors this event.

Silent Strength: The Introvert’s Guide to Building Successful Startups

What if the quietest person in the room is the one who changes the world? 

Silent Strength empowers introverted entrepreneurs to harness their natural strengths, lead authentically, and succeed in the startup world without pretending to be extroverts. Here is some early praise:

“...This book harnesses the introvert’s superpowers while simultaneously providing sound practical advice on key lessons (like how to effectively manage energy levels, overstimulation, and anxiety) the author learned as an introverted founder.”

”As someone who led a global team through the disruption of war, I know firsthand that resilience doesn’t always roar. Silent Strength is a testament to how reflection, empathy, and composure can become a founder’s greatest assets, especially at times of great uncertainty.”

Natalie Kaminski, Co-Founder and CEO of JetRockets

“Silent Strength is one of those rare books that makes quiet ambition feel powerful again. It’s not about being the loudest in the room, but about playing the long game with focus, depth, and calm conviction. A must-read for any high-level operator who leads through thought, not noise.”

Andrew Yeung, Founder of Fibe, Partner at Next Wave NYC

Silent Strength: The Introvert’s Guide to Building Successful Startups is due out December 4, 2025. You can pre-order the eBook here, and it will come out in paperback, too. 

Hire World-Class Finance & Accounting Talent [Sponsor]

MAVI is an AI-driven marketplace for highly skilled finance and accounting talent that connects US companies with pre-vetted global accounting professionals. 

Our talent supply is aggregated through proprietary sourcing, vetting, and matching processes to find the right resource for our clients in a part-time or full-time capacity.

Need Some Help?

What if the quietest person in the room is the one who changes the world?

Build Scale Grow provides expert strategies and clear metrics for social impact, EdTech, and health tech startups, with a focus on introverted founders. With five successful M&As in ten years, we’ll help your startup reach its full potential and beyond.

Book a free 30-minute call HERE to see how we can help.