By Maddy Baltas, Account Coordinator, Fall 2019
Have you ever made a mistake at work? Did it slow down or impact a project you had been working on? Did it cause you and your coworkers to miss a deadline?
There is nothing worse than making a mistake that not only impacts you, but also your company and client. It’s one thing if you make more work for yourself, but if it makes more work for your agency or slows down a client deliverable, it can cause more distress than usual.
However, it is important to remember that we have all been there and making mistakes is an integral part of learning and growing professionally. I don’t know about you, but I have yet to meet a person who has never made a mistake.
Here are three tips to move past that mistake you just made at work:
Step 1: Own It
Be honest! Owning up to a mistake is not always easy. As I said before, we’ve all made mistakes and just admit you did something wrong. Don’t place the blame elsewhere — not on miscommunication, another coworker or a lie to cover it up. Apologize if necessary, but do not overdo it.
Step 2: Fix It
Figure out what YOU need to do to fix the issue. Communicate with your team members and coworkers to figure out the best course of action to right your wrong. The impact on your coworkers should be minimal — this is your issue to deal with. However, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it!
Step 3: Learn From It
Mistakes usually do not happen twice (and they shouldn’t) because you learn from them. Evaluate what you need to do differently next time to make sure this mistake will not happen again. Honest communication with yourself, your coworkers and your boss is the easiest way to prevent mistakes and catch them before they become too big to fix.
Please remember, everyone makes mistakes! It is not the end of the world. You will get over it. Your coworkers will get over it. And, your boss will get over it. People will usually remember how you responded to your mistake more than the mistake itself.