We all make mistakes, even career mistakes, and especially in entrepreneurship where test and learn is the name of the game. But you’ve got to learn how to bounce back quickly. Here are some of my favorite tricks to fix mistakes at work and get back on track.
Life Hacks: How to Fix Mistakes at Work
1. Acknowledge Your Mistake
It takes a very mature person to take responsibility for their actions, genuinely. Own up to your mistake and take it as a life-lesson learned. We’ve all been there, and if we haven’t, we all will. It’s a growing pain and going through it with grace and humility is key.
2. Communicate
In times of crisis, throw the “don’t come to me with problems, come to me with solutions” boss rule book out the window. Open the lines of communication and be very transparent about what transpired to get to the root of the problem as a team and come to a solution as quickly as possible. This will highlight you as a problem solver and being solutions-oriented, and being communicative is always a desirable skill in an employee.
3. Explain Yourself
Depending on the situation, it’s possible that your mistake was based on miscommunication or juggling priorities. Mention that this was an honest mistake and that you would never want to jeopardize your reputation or the reputation of the company, and ask for guidance and support if required to get you through an extra-heavy workload.
4. Offer Solutions
Now that you’ve acknowledged your mistake, communicated with your boss, and explained yourself, it’s time to offer up your solution to the problem at hand. If you can, come up with a few different options for solutions, ranging from low-hanging fruit to more ambitious options.
Have you successfully navigated a career mistake? What was your biggest takeaway? Tweet me @lorenridinger and I’ll retweet the best replies.
