This could easily be an urban myth, but is instead, genuinely a true story. You might have read about it …

A waiter at the Hawksmoor Restaurant in Manchester, UK, earlier this year served a bottle of wine to customers worth £4,500. They’d asked for one priced at just over £200. Clearly a huge mistake.

We were talking about this on a leadership programme recently, with particular reference to being supported by our managers and leaders, and someone reminded us all of the employer’s response to the mistake:

“To the member of staff who accidentally gave it away, chin up! One-off mistakes happen and we love you anyway.”

The waiter in question, understandably, on first realising their mistake, might have been a tad fearful for the security of their job. How refreshing that they were publicly supported.

Making a mistake for the right reason is one well worth supporting.