Mistakes Happen – Here’s How to Best Handle Them

Everyone makes mistakes – there’s no denying or getting around it. In fact, it can be argued that an employee who makes mistakes may be better in the long run than an employee who always plays things safe in order to avoid the risk of possibly messing up. Mistakes are required for growth, and growth is always a key part of the equation for success. No risk, no reward.

That being said, one of the most important things to know is how to handle a mistake once it’s been made. For most careers, handling mistakes in a calm, collected, and competent manner is seen as an invaluable skill. This goes double for those of you in a leadership position.

The question is: When a mistake happens, what is the best way to handle it?

Accept the Mistake

That’s right: step one is learning to acknowledge mistakes when they happen. Many, many people have an instinct to hide their mistakes, pretend they didn’t happen and hope no one notices, or shift the blame to someone else. These actions do nothing to help the situation, and will only make your coworkers, employees, and boss more upset if and when they find out. Take a moment to breathe, to assess the extent of the issue, and to accept that you’ve messed up. Then move on.

Break the News Yourself

It may be a nerve-wracking, embarrassing, and painful situation, but in the end it’s always best to explain your mistake to those who need to know – in person, if possible. Letting your team or boss know that a mistake has been made means that everyone can begin working to take care of their own matters as swiftly as possible. This is especially true if your mistake may have ramifications for people you work with. Be sure you are clear about how serious or minor the mistake was, and accept responsibility for your involvement in it.

Be Clear, Concise, and Work on a Solution

Your boss, employees, or team needs to be able to fully understand what the mistake was, and what needs to be done to handle it. Don’t speak in vague terms about what is wrong. Once the mistake is out in the open, you and those involved can begin putting your heads together for a solution. If the mistake lies primarily with your area of expertise, it’s best to have a thorough diagnosis of the problem and a few possible solutions when you go in. There’s no shame in asking for input from others, though — and if you’re panicking in a situation, it might not be a bad idea to get a second opinion.

Take Steps to Avoid the Same Mistake

Unless the mistake was a one-time fluke or caused by circumstances unlikely to ever be repeated, take a moment to reflect once everything has settled down and returned to normal. Figure out what underlying problem may have caused your mistake and consider what steps you might take to avoid a repeat of the situation. Mistakes happen, and they happen to everyone – but you want to make sure each mistake serves as a learning opportunity for what to do (and not to do) in the future.

In a professional environment, realizing you’ve made a mistake can be a terrifying experience, but it doesn’t have to be. A good employer will recognize that no one is perfect, and as long as you are able to take responsibility for your actions and focus on a solution, they should think no less of you for it.