How to Recover When You’ve Let a Colleague Down

This episode of The Leader’s Kitbag is a little different.

It’s a direct response to a brilliant question I received from Suma on TikTok about accountability, specifically, what to do when things fall through the cracks and your colleagues perceive you as not being accountable.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What accountability really means, and why it’s about everything we do
• The power of a genuine, no-excuses apology
• Why context matters, and how to offer it without deflecting
• How to ask what I can do to fix this, and really mean it
• The critical step we often skip: learning and adapting

Whether you’ve been in this situation before or want to be ready for when it inevitably happens, this episode is packed with practical tips you can use immediately.

 

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Until next time, lead on.

Podcast Transcript: How To Recover When You’ve Let a Colleague Down 

Welcome to another episode of The Leader’s Kitbag, and this one is a little different. 

Today, I’m responding directly to a listener’s question that came in via TikTok. 

Suma reached out some time ago with a great question around accountability.  

She described herself as someone who works hard to act ethically, be a good team member, and collaborate well with colleagues. 

But, like many of us, she sometimes finds that things slip through the cracks. When that happens, she feels her colleagues see it as a lack of accountability, and she wants to know how to recover when that happens. 

So, that’s exactly what we’re talking about in this episode. 

What Is Accountability? 

At its core, accountability is about taking ownership for everything we do, both the good and the bad. 

It’s about acknowledging the impact of our actions and stepping up when things go wrong. 

1. Offer a Genuine Apology

A heartfelt apology goes a long way. 

But here’s the key: it must be free of excuses. If you say, “I’m sorry, but…”, you’ve instantly undone the apology. 

Own it. Keep it clean. 

2. Give a Bit of Honest Context

This isn’t about making excuses, it’s about helping others understand what happened. 

You might say: 

“I’m really sorry I didn’t get that done – I understand the impact it had on you. I failed to appreciate how much time it would take.” 

Or maybe: 

“I’ve realised I often say yes to too many things because I don’t want to let people down. Ironically, that’s exactly what ends up happening.” 

When offered with honesty and ownership, that kind of context helps rebuild trust. 

3. Commit to a Solution

Once you’ve taken responsibility and offered context, share how you plan to resolve the situation. Even better… ask them: 

“What can I do to fix this?” 

This shows humility, willingness, and a real desire to make things right. 

4. Learn and Adapt

The final, and arguably most important step, is to reflect. 

Once the situation is resolved, take a moment to ask: 

• Why did this happen?

• Is this a recurring pattern?

• What’s at the root of it?

If you notice you’re often overcommitting, maybe it’s time to get support or training around setting boundaries or becoming more assertive. 

Something as simple as saying: 

“Yes, I can help — but not until tomorrow afternoon.” 

…can make all the difference. 

To Sum Up 

So there you have it, five practical steps to help you recover when you feel you’ve let a colleague down: 

1. Own it. 

1. Apologise sincerely. 

1. Provide context (not excuses). 

1. Commit to a resolution. 

1. Reflect, learn, and adapt. 

If you’ve got a question you’d like me to answer in a future episode of The Leader’s Kitbag, just drop me a message wherever you’re watching or listening. I’d love to help.