We’ve all made mistakes at work. Maybe you forgot to add an important piece of information to your report, sent an email to the wrong person, or failed to proofread your sales pitch before your big meeting. Whatever it was, you need to take steps to repair the damage as soon as possible—especially if the mistake could cost you your job or otherwise harm your reputation in the company and in the industry.
Here are seven steps to follow after you make a mistake at work that will help you turn around any negative situation, while also making sure that this kind of error doesn’t happen again in the future.
- Admit your mistake
The first step is admitting that you made a mistake. This can be hard, especially if you’re worried about how your boss or co-workers will react. But it’s important to take responsibility for your actions and own up to your mistakes. Otherwise, people will never trust you and could start avoiding working with you. It also gives them an opportunity to teach you something about what went wrong so it doesn’t happen again in the future.
- Apologize
The first step is always to apologize, even if you don’t think the mistake was your fault. Acknowledge that you understand how your actions impacted others and take responsibility for your part in the situation. Be sincere, honest, and contrite in your apology.
- Fix it quickly
The first step is to fix the mistake quickly. This shows your boss that you’re taking responsibility for your error and are willing to make things right. It’s also important to take corrective action so that the mistake doesn’t happen again in the future.
- Explain yourself (in writing)
It’s inevitable that you’ll make a mistake at work at some point in your career. And while it may feel like the end of the world at the moment, there are ways to bounce back and repair the damage so it doesn’t happen again.
One of the most important things is to learn from what happened. Whether it was an error in judgment or bad timing, pinpointing what went wrong will help ensure future mistakes don’t occur. Acknowledging your error can also be helpful for repairing relationships with coworkers who were negatively impacted by what happened – if not for their sake then for yours!
- Do everything you can to fix the problem
It’s important to take responsibility for your actions and do everything in your power to fix the problem. This may include apologizing to those affected, making amends, or taking steps to prevent the mistake from happening again. Taking responsibility shows that you’re committed to your job and willing to learn from your mistakes.
- Avoid making excuses
It can be tempting to make excuses for your mistake, but this will only make the situation worse. Accept responsibility for what you did and take steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again. A Purposeful power flower helps to change negative thoughts into positive ones. The person who has committed the error needs time to accept that they have made a mistake and to forgive themselves. Doing so allows them to get back on track without letting their mistake hold them back or let them become bigger than it is.
- Focus on what went right rather than what went wrong
It’s easy to get caught up in feeling bad about ourselves when we make a mistake, but it’s important to remember that everyone makes mistakes. Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, focus on what went right. What did you learn from the experience? How can you prevent making the same mistake in the future? Taking these positive steps will help you repair the damage and move on from your mistake.
Wrap Up!
We all make mistakes, but how we handle them can mean the difference between being seen as someone who takes responsibility for their actions and being seen as someone who can’t be trusted. Follow these seven steps after you make a mistake at work and you’ll be on your way to repairing the damage and rebuilding trust.