Sorry

2026-03-15

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Making mistakes is inevitable, but making amends is a choice. In the final episode of PiXL Pearls Series 9, Rachel Johnson (PiXL CEO) explores one of the most deceptively difficult leadership skills: saying sorry well. Using the Deepwater Horizon disaster as a case study in what happens when responsibility is deflected and empathy is absent, this episode examines why a poorly handled apology can deepen damage, erode trust and make a hard situation worse. But it also offers a practical way forward: what a meaningful...

Making mistakes is inevitable, but making amends is a choice.

In the final episode of PiXL Pearls Series 9, Rachel Johnson (PiXL CEO) explores one of the most deceptively difficult leadership skills: saying sorry well.

Using the Deepwater Horizon disaster as a case study in what happens when responsibility is deflected and empathy is absent, this episode examines why a poorly handled apology can deepen damage, erode trust and make a hard situation worse. But it also offers a practical way forward: what a meaningful apology actually needs, why “I’m sorry but…” is not an apology and how repair-focused leadership helps teams move from stuck to steady.

This is a powerful reflection on humility, courage and the moment every leader eventually faces: when the fastest route to credibility is not another explanation but clear responsibility and visible repair – tune in today!

If you enjoyed PiXL Pearls...

Check out the PiXL website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.pixl.org.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free downloads

Read Rachel's three books:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Time to Think 1: The Things that stop us and how to deal with them⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Time to Think 2: The Things that stop our teams and what to do about them⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Box Clever: Quadrants to change the way we live and lead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to the PiXL Leadership Bookclub.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

PiXL Pearls are short reflections on life and leadership which inspire, encourage, motivate and challenge thinking. The series is hosted by Rachel Johnson (PiXL CEO), who draws on literature, life and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of schools.

PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production.

PiXL is a partnership organisation of thousands of schools, colleges and alternative education providers spanning KS1-5. Find out more about how you could gain value from a PiXL subscription: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.pixl.org.uk/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠

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