Dr. Becky, the parenting guru, emphasizes that one of the most crucial skills parents can cultivate is repair. This skill is equally valuable in the workplace.
Imagine if leaders, managers, and colleagues became adept at repairing moments of disconnection and friction. It would foster cultures of safety, understanding, and collaboration within our teams and organizations.
Consider this scenario: I was at a gym once and an instructor struggled getting people’s attention. The previous class had just ended and folks arriving were understandably catching up and getting themselves situated. The instructor called out “bring it in.” They did so again and again. Each time their voice rose until the 5th time they yelled “Bring it in. Jesus Christ! This shouldn’t be so hard.”
Silence fell over the class. Participants stood stunned, like a group of chastised school children. To the instructors credit they attempted an apology, but a weak one. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get much sleep. I apologize in advance.”
What if, in that moment, instead of moving on from the discomfort, the instructure had sought repair? Imagine if they’d said, “I want to pause for a moment and apologize. I haven’t slept well. My yelling was unnecessary. I’ll aim to do better. Let’s have a great class.”
15 seconds of repair that named what happened, took responsibility, and set an intention for the future. Simple, yet powerful.
By embracing the concept of repair in our workplaces, we can cultivate psychological safety, foster connections, enhance collaboration, and nurture courage. The next time you feel that pang of regret over something you did, consider how you can repair it to promote a more positive outcome.