Even the most experienced educational leaders, despite best intentions, will make errors. And in some cases, those errors lead to problems that are both very public and very embarrassing.

In those cases, the most common reaction is to wait for the situation to blow over. And the most common response is to do nothing.

Here is a tip. When you make a mistake, or a mistake is made in your building or district, it is best to simply own the problem. Instead of waiting for the issue to pass, make a public apology.

Explain what happened, why it happened and what is being done to correct the situation. By owning the problem, you will gain trust from your stakeholders.

Remember, the single most important communication tool is the apology. Do not be afraid to use it.