Solidarity Sunday: When Leaders Mess Up: How to Rebuild Trust
As Shakespeare once wrote, "Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown". Every leader, no matter how skilled, seasoned, or sincere, will eventually make a mistake. And because of the seat you occupy as leaders of a democratically elected union, those mistakes are often magnified and weaponized. The question is not whether you will make mistakes...that's going to happen...but rather how you will respond when it does. What a leader does afterwards? How do you rebuild credibility and trust once you've made a mistake?
The way you respond to your own failures determines whether you deepen distrust or rebuild credibility.
Trust is the currency of leadership. Once it's shaken, it takes deliberate effort to restore. In the last Solidarity Sunday, we talked about the 3 main leadership styles. Today we address how each leadership style approaches the challenge of cleaning up his or her own mess.
Transformational Leaders: Own It and Inspire Through Vulnerability
Transformational leaders are known for inspiring others with vision and authenticity. When they stumble, they acknowledge the mistake openly, take ownership of it fully, and demonstrate what they learned and how the failure will help them fuel growth.
- Example: Barack Obama often admitted errors candidly, framing them as learning moments that made his administration stronger. A transformational leader uses humility to deepen connection: "I fell short here, but together we'll use this setback to move closer to our shared goals."
- Why it works: Vulnerability doesn't weaken a transformational leader's credibility, it strengthens it by showing you are human, reflective, and still committed to the mission.
Democratic Leaders: Rebuild by Listening and Including
For democratic leaders, mistakes present an opportunity to re-engage the group. Trust is rebuilt not through pronouncements, but through dialogue and listener participation in the repair process.
- Example: Richard Trumka, former AFL-CIO president, was known for 'listening tours' after union setbacks. A democratic leader faced with distrust might convene members, invite candid feedback, and ask: "How do we move forward together?"
- Why it works: By giving members a voice in the solution, democratic leaders not only repair trust but often emerge with stronger bonds than before the mistake. The act of listening communicates respect, accountability, and solidarity.
Autocratic Leaders: Correct Quickly, but Risk Lasting Damage
Autocratic leaders often have the toughest time attempting to repair mistakes. They are quick to double down on control: correcting errors swiftly, issuing clear directives, and emphasizing authority. While this can restore short-term order, it rarely restores trust.
- Example: Henry Ford, when confronted with labor unrest, often responded by tightening policies rather than opening dialogue. While production continued, relationships frayed and resentment deepened.
- Why it doesn't work: An autocratic leader can "fix" the mistake operationally but struggles to clean up the relational damage. Subordinates may comply, but they won't forget. Over time, distrust becomes baked into the culture.
Accountability Before Action
Across all leadership styles, in order to restore trust and faith in your leadership, one thing is clear: you must authentically take responsibility before taking corrective action. Defensiveness, blame-shifting, ignoring, or silence only erodes credibility. A leader who says, "I was wrong, and here's how I'll make it right," sets the stage for repair.
In organized labor, where solidarity and trust are the lifeblood of collective power, mistakes are magnified, particularly in a social media world. Members, staff, committees, and e-board associates all need to know their leaders represent them with integrity, humility, and courage.
- Transformational leaders repair trust by inspiring through honesty and vision.
- Democratic leaders restore confidence by giving members a hand in shaping the fix.
- Autocratic leaders may regain compliance but rarely recover true loyalty.
The choice is clear. In a local union, trust is not commanded. It is earned, repaired, and sustained through accountability.