While I love it when my staff pretends I'm perfect, I have learned over the years that a little humility goes a long way. I make a goof, I apologize, and I correct it.

David Ginsburg of "Coach G's Teaching Tips" makes a similar point in a recent blogpost. He shares tidbits about two successful adults, each of whom had a humiliating moment at the hands of a teacher when they were young.

Ronald's teacher exposed him to public ridicule when he was 6. Now some 65 years later, Ronald still recalls the incident with pain. Conversely, after Scott's teacher hurt his feelings, the teacher apologized. Scott remembers his teacher with admiration.

Ginsburg makes the point that teachers are human and therefore are likely to make a mistake from time to time. It makes a big difference when the teacher is able to acknowledge the error and make amends.