Make It Right

CRASH!

The table tipped, launching snacks, water, a lamp, and a digital picture frame onto the floor. Our eldest daughter had placed too much of her weight on Grandma's table, which resulted in the accidental mess.

At first glance, nothing seemed broken until we tried turning the frame back on. Turns out digital frames aren't built to survive a free fall.

After a couple of clicks on Amazon, the problem was solved. A new frame arrived before their first cup of coffee the next morning. I didn't want to spend $160 on a replacement, but it was the right thing to do.

When I told my wife I'd ordered the new one, she said, "I figured you had. Thank you."

Her response triggered a memory from early in my career.

We supported a charity event, decorating our display with a wishful beach-travel theme, particularly inspiring in the middle of a snowy February. I'd contributed my brand-new luggage set to complete the display.

The next day, we arrived to find our display intact, but my luggage was missing.

As my internal panic surfaced, my boss calmly said, "Don't worry. We'll find it. And if we don't, we'll make it right."

That moment stuck with me. We'll make it right. Not "oh no" or "too bad," just calm assurance and a shared responsibility.

Over the years, I've learned this: when leaders create a culture where people know they'll be supported, even when things go sideways, it unlocks confidence, commitment, and creativity.

The cost of a mistake is almost always less than the cost of fear.

Because making it right isn't just about fixing what's broken.

It's being a leader people trust, not one they quietly survive.

When it matters most, do your people trust you to make it right?