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Don’t hide from your mistake
As soon as you find out that you have made a mistake, reach out to talk about it with your boss.
If your boss requires an appointment, set one up right away—with some urgency. The less time you wait, the better. This will allow for a faster fix of any potential negative consequences.
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Overcoming mistakes at work starts with a difficult conversation.
Though it may not seem like it, your aim is actually to increase the amount of trust you get from your boss. If they know you will come to them to alert them of problems you have caused, then they don’t necessarily need to look over your shoulder all the time.
Start with a few simple declarative sentences. “I did X. As a result, Y happened.”
You can provide more context afterward, but it’s critical to lay out clearly what happened. Also, leave explanations for when the problem is fixed.
Taking responsibility means doing whatever you can to repair the problem.
Tell your boss anything you have done already to try to fix the problem. If you have other suggestions, lay them out. Work closely with your supervisor to understand better how to solve the situation.
You need to think through how you will handle situations like that in the future.
Identify what went wrong. Did you act too quickly? Did you neglect to check your work? Did you listen to someone you shouldn’t have?
RELATED IDEAS
... for future big decisions:
- Identify the decision/problem. Be as clear as possible.
- Collect information that will assist in your decision-making.
- Consider various solutions.
- Weigh the evidence for each potential solution.
- Make your decision.
- Take action on that decision.
- Review the decision once an action has been taken.
- Most people unconsciously overreact about their mistakes.
- It is much better to accept mistakes, learn from them, and move on.
It means not seeking others to blame for what happens in your life and being able to respond to challenges personally.
Being aware that your decisions have a direct impact on your life’s events is what personal responsibility is all about.