Mistakes At Work - How To Effectively Remedy Any Mistake at Work
Most mistakes at work are ok.
Most mistakes are attributed to the overwhelming amount of work we have piling up on our desks. Most mistakes are due to balls accidentally being dropped. And most mistakes are fixable!!
Lately, I’ve been having a handful of conversations with women who are expressing their frustrations at the mistakes they have been making at work. Frustrations such as,
“Ok, maybe it’s mom brain but I have been making so many mistakes at work lately”
“How can I tell my boss I made this mistake? It’s so not like me!”
“How am I supposed to be seen as competent when I’m forgetting to reply to emails and am dropping balls left and right?”
And to those women (and to you), I say it’s ok. It’s ok if you drop a ball here and there. It’s ok if you make a mistake. And it does not devalue what you bring to the workplace (and to your personal life) on a daily basis. You are capable, you are valuable, and you can fix this.
Making a mistake at work – even when a promotion is on the line – is fixable. In fact, I would even argue that if you make a mistake and you are able to remedy that mistake quickly and efficiently, it will showcase your competence and your problem solving skills in real time which will make you even more of an asset.
Here’s how to remedy (most) mistakes you make at work –
Own it. Communicate that it was a mistake/oversight
We all make mistakes. Being able to productively communicate when you've made a mistake, what the mistake is, and how you're rectifying the situation is how you will become the working professional that is respected - no matter the error
2. Show your humanity
Being able to reflect on the mistake (this is different than an excuse) helps soften the delivery. Reflect on what contributed to that mistake. Was your mind elsewhere that day? Did you have a chaotic morning? That's ok!! More than likely the recipient can empathize. Don't be afraid to show your humanity even in a professional setting. Especially in a professional setting.
3. State your commitment moving forward
Once you admit and communicate the mistake, you then need to communicate how you are rectifying the situation. Explicitly explain what you will do.
It can look as simple as something like this,
"Hey xx, That's on me. Nothing worse than an unnecessary email in your inbox But when I have an adequate amount of sleep and coffee in me you can assure this won’t happen again!”
Or it can be as detailed as this,
“Hey boss, In the essence of transparency, I am calling attention to the error I made on ABC. I realized this happened because [insert reason here].
I know this is unacceptable and here is how I am remedying the situation moving forward. I am going to…
With this new process in place, it will ensure this will not happen again and I thank you for your understanding and your support.”
Mistakes are bound to happen. It is unrealistic for us to be held to standards such as “zero mistakes made here”. But it is realistic for us to hold ourselves accountable when mistakes are made. Effectively communicating, and then solving, the mistakes you make at work won’t hinder your performance or your career trajectory. It may be a minor set back in the moment (and cause a whole lot of anxiety) but you now have the tools to be able to tackle mistakes productively using effective communication.
Always in your corner,
