In ancient Israel, people tore their clothes to show grief. The act was visible and dramatic, and the cost was one garment.
Joel, speaking after a disaster had stripped the land, says, “Rend your hearts and not your garments.” The show is not the thing. He also says who goes first: the priests are to weep between the vestibule and the altar (Joel 2:17). The leaders lead the turning.
Every team has seen the garment-tearing apology. A statement, an all-hands meeting, careful words. Then nothing changes, and the team learns that apologies are theater.
The idea. Earning trust is the second step of the LEADS Path. The leader goes first in owning a failure, and the apology is measured by what changes afterward. One sentence of ownership and one changed behavior are worth more than a page of regret.
The action for this week. Think of the last thing you apologized for at work. What changed afterward? If nothing changed, change one thing this week and tell the person what you changed.
“Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.”Joel 2:13, ESV
Jake
P.S. David owned his failure in one sentence. Read David and Nathan.