Celebrating Mulligans: Turning Missteps and Mishaps into Momentum!

Mistakes? Missteps? Things not going as planned? What if we could turn them into stepping stones for growth, creativity, and innovation?

A team I’ve been working with recently adopted a powerful new tradition: Celebrating Mulligans. Inspired by the mulligan in golf—a judgment-free do-over—this practice has helped them embrace challenges, foster trust, and unlock their full creative potential.

Here’s how it works: Every Thursday (though any day of the week could work!), the team gathers in a circle and starts by celebrating the wins of the week—big or small, they recognize the successes that deserve a cheer. 🎉

Then, they move into Mulligan mode:

✨ A foam football (affectionately known as the Mulligan Maker) gets passed around to whoever is ready to share.

✨ The person with the ball shares their Mulligan of the week—something that didn’t go as planned.

✨ The team claps and cheers to celebrate the courage to share. 🙌

✨ Next, the sharer reflects on their learning, lesson, or takeaway.

✨ And yes—you guessed it! The team celebrates AGAIN! 🎊👏

But it’s more than just a fun tradition. Sharing our Mulligans helps create a psychologically safe environment where experimentation, creativity, and innovation thrive. When mistakes are celebrated, it opens the door to bold ideas, fresh solutions, and continuous growth.

Here’s why this practice is so impactful:

✨ Focus: The person holding the football has the floor, ensuring everyone’s full attention.

✨ Openness: Starting with wins sets a positive tone, making it easier to share missteps.

✨ Innovation: Reflecting on mistakes often leads to unexpected insights and breakthroughs.

✨ Team Bonding: Cheering together strengthens trust and unity.

✨ Growth Mindset: Every Mulligan has a pro and a grow, and both are celebrated.

The feedback? This team has completely shifted how they view challenges. Wins are celebrated, mistakes are reframed as opportunities, and the entire atmosphere now fosters creativity, trust, fun, and resilience. It’s a small change that’s already leading to big results for this workplace team.

Small shifts in how we approach mistakes can create massive ripple effects over time—improving team connection, creativity, and resilience.

If you’re ready to equip your team with the tools they need to embrace challenges, foster innovation, and thrive in 2025 and beyond, let’s connect.

Visit sarawegwitz.com/training to learn more about my work, or feel free to reach out directly—I’d love to explore how we can work together to create a resilient, empowered team!