Blog

Everybody makes a mistake now and then. Most of them are minuscule and commonplace. You accidentally forget an appointment or throw something away.  Yet the consequences of some mistakes can be huge. You accidentally drop something out of your hands and the next thing you know the car you were about to fix is destroyed. It doesn’t matter what kind of fault you’ve made, you’ll have to find a way to cope with it.

First of all, don’t avoid the mistake. We agree it is tempting to let someone or something else carry the can: a toolbox that wasn’t properly stowed or unclear instructions. But it doesn’t fix the problem. It is better to face the problem and deal with it. And if you don’t know how, here’s a roadmap:

Step 1: Recognise the fault. Don’t be ashamed, everyone makes mistakes – it can happen to anybody.
Step 2: Don’t let anyone else carry the blame. Accept your responsibility and, your manager about it and stay close to the facts.
Step 3: Show that you’re sorry, be honest, sincere and show your feelings about it.
Step 4: Think of a solution. When you accept your responsibility, you also accept the responsibility for fixing the problem.
Step 5: Analyse your mistakes, that’s the best way to learn. Don’t waste your time wondering how you should defend yourself.
Step 6: Make sure that it will not happen again. What could you have done differently so it wouldn’t have happened? And what can you do to make sure it doesn’t happen again in the future?

Photo by jimmy_earl