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Making mistakes at work can sometimes feel like the kiss of death but it doesn’t have to that way. Michelle Furtado show you to deal with makes and perhaps redeem oneself.
When you realise you’ve made a mistake, your mind instantly thinks of worse case scenarios.
What if I get an official warning? What if it affects my chances of being promoted? What if I get fired?
But like most things, it’s rarely about the mistake.
The crucial element is what happens next. That is where people are judged, their character assessed and their standing in the company examined.
So when you have made a mistake, these three tips will help to lessen the anxiety and increase your chances of redemption.
We are all human and we all make mistakes. The only way a mistake will be a negative event is if you don’t learn anything from it. Understand that there is no failure, only feedback and give yourself a break. Being resilient is a great quality, but one that is only exercised when we get knockbacks. See the mistakes as an opportunity in disguise. Learn where you went wrong and grow.
As soon as you find out that you made a mistake, make it known to the necessary people. This is crucial. Not only is it bad for your health but festering away on a problem will only make it harder to fix. As well, it raises questions about why it hadn’t been addressed earlier. So take a deep breath, grit your teeth and fess up. I can’t guarantee what the response will be but I can guarantee you will feel 10 times better once it’s out in the open.
Don’t drop the bomb and expect someone else to clean up the mess. This is your opportunity to prove to others that you have what it takes to be a true leader. Identify how you can rectify the situation and be ready to take on advice from other people. Instead of allowing your boss or a senior colleague to handle it, ask them how they would do it and then have a go yourself. Not only will this prove to others that you are capable of fixing your own mistakes, you also re-build that confidence you lost when you made the mistake in the first place. Confidence doesn’t grow on its own, it has to be nurtured. This is your opportunity – grab it with two hands!
Ultimately mistakes are human. Don’t worry about being perfect – focus on being a resilient, capable employee who is always learning.
Have you made any mistakes at work? How did you deal with them? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.
