How to admit you’ve made a mistake at work
We’re all human and we will all make mistakes at work. It is impossible to avoid them. But what is important is how you manage these. In this article Megan has put together some top tips for you to follow.
Identify and understand the mistake
Once you have identified a mistake, it is critical that you acknowledge it and understand what has happened. Try to avoid impulsively reacting to the situation, take a moment and ensure you have a good understanding of the situation. It can be tempting to try and ignore what’s happened, or wait and see what happens. But this can lead to further unintended or unforeseen consequences.
Communicate and take accountability
The next step is to be proactive. You need to let people know what has happened, and admit your role in the mistake. Offer an apology to those affected by the situation. It can be very tempting to try and blame others, be defensive or minimise your own role. But, it is much better to focus on your role and the actions you have taken. Provide as much detail as possible about what happened, and what the impact has been. But ensure that you are also clear about what you don’t know. Do not try and make up information, or bluff your way through the situation.
Offer a solution
Having a plan on how to remedy the situation is critical. No-one wants to be presented with a mistake, with no suggestions or recommendations on the solution. Consider what options are available, what actions you have already taken, and what support you may need. You do not have to try and solve the situation alone, but you do need to take responsibility the solution. There may be two elements to the solution. One more practical for example changing a policy or procedure, and the second may need a relationship to be rebuilt.
Move on and be compassionate.
We are all human, and even though they may not always be willing to admit it, everyone has made mistakes at work. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Be honest about what you have learned, what is going to be different, and share your progress. This will help rebuild the relationships, but also reinforce that you are willing and able to learn from your mistakes. As long as you have done everything you can to remedy the situation, communicated to the necessary people and have a plan moving forward, then let it go!
Adopting a growth mindset in these situations can be beneficial to your ongoing career development. Changing how you view mistakes, can help you to take the positives and learnings from the situation. This mindset will help develop your resilience in the face of challenges throughout your career.