Black Friday Sale! 50% Off All Access

Owning Your Mistakes and 4 More Business Tips From the Week Read how to lead by example when you fail, how to benefit from stress, how to reinvigorate your team during the summer and more.

By Brian Patrick Eha

Entrepreneur+ Black Friday Sale

Our biggest sale — Get unlimited access to Entrepreneur.com at an unbeatable price. Use code SAVE50 at checkout.*

Claim Offer

*Offer only available to new subscribers

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

A roundup of the best tips of the week from Entrepreneur.com.

As a business owner, you're bound to make mistakes. Rather than running from them or trying to make a case for why they weren't really mistakes, you should own up to them in front of your staff. "Admitting that you're wrong is a sign of strength," says Guy Winch, author of Emotional First Aid (Hudson Street, 2013). "It takes character and leadership to do it well."

Excuses won't help you anyway, and they certainly won't set a good example for your employees. But admitting to your mistakes will foster a culture in which it's okay to experiment and fail, and to move on from failure without assigning blame. "Taking responsibility when things don't work is more conducive to growth," Winch says. More: How to Admit When You're Wrong

Bursts of stress can actually be good for you.
In small doses, stress can improve your thinking power and give you the boost you need to tackle a challenge, says Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, author of Real Cause, Real Cure (Rodale Books, 2012), who has studied the effects of stress. One benefit of stress is that it causes your body to release cortisol, a hormone that can improve immune function in small quantities. But too much cortisol wrecks your immune system, Dr. Teitelbaum says, which is why people experiencing chronic stress tend to get sick. More: The Surprising Health Benefits of Stress

To reinvigorate your team, take them out of the office.
During the summer months, there's a good chance you'll find your employees itching to get out and enjoy the sunshine. Trevor Turnbull, chief operating officer of sports news site Sports Networker, recommends indulging this natural compulsion from time to time. Whether attending a baseball game together or holding a company picnic, the break from cubicle life will show your staff that you value them. In return, they will be more loyal and happier to go to work. More: 4 Ways to Turn Your Employees Into an All-Star Team

Get rid of employees who stir up trouble.
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, a problem employee will slip through your screening process. At first, you may be impressed by the new staffer's output, only to realize in time that she is a toxic addition to the workplace. So what do you do then? "If you have people who are interfering with the performance of others, you need to consider letting them go," says Suzanne Benoit, founder of Portland, Maine-based Benoit Consulting Services. One type to watch out for is the Pot-Stirrer, someone who gossips and pits coworkers against each other. If you can't get through to the Pot-Stirrers with an honest conversation about the need for workplace collegiality, then you need to show them the door. More: 3 Toxic Employees You Need to Fire Now

When asking someone for a casual meeting, be crystal clear about your expectations.
Inviting someone out for coffee, drinks or lunch to talk about your business is a pretty big request. Even though you're offering to pay, you're asking another business owner to take time away from their own endeavors to help you with yours, says Erika Napoletano, founder of RHW Media, a Boulder, Colo.-based consulting business. To avoid being an "askhole," let the person know upfront what you'd like to discuss, and promise to limit your meeting to half an hour. More: 3 Simple Questions That Can Derail Your Reputation

Brian Patrick Eha is a freelance journalist and former assistant editor at Entrepreneur.com. He is writing a book about the global phenomenon of Bitcoin for Portfolio, an imprint of Penguin Random House. It will be published in 2015.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Making a Change

The App That Makes You Think Like a CEO

Even Mark Cuban is on Headway—try it with our unbeatable price.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Data & Recovery

Not Backing up Your Phone? This is Why You Need to Start.

Skip the iCloud fees with this lifetime iOS backup tool.

Health & Wellness

How to Improve Your Daily Routine to Strike a Balance Between Rest and Business Success

Here's how entrepreneurs can balance their time and energy to prevent burnout.

Business News

Barbara Corcoran Says This Is the Interest Rate Magic Number That Will Make the Market 'Go Ballistic'

Corcoran said she praying for lower interest rates and people are "tired of waiting."

Money & Finance

Why Donald Trump's Business-First Policies Trump Harris' Consumer-Centric Approach

President Donald Trump's pro-business agenda is packed with policy moves encouraging investment to drive economic growth. The next Congress has a unique opportunity to support entrepreneurship and innovation, improving U.S. competitiveness with the rest of the world.