Have you ever made a huge mistake at work? I know we have all messed up at work, but I mean a huge mistake. You know the kind of error that could possibly get you fired or adversely impact your evaluation!
Well, I have! It was early in my military career. I had a very high-profile position. I was stationed at Headquarters United States Army Europe. In my position, I was a member of a two-person team. We each were responsible for presenting a 30-minute briefing to all VIP’s, who were visiting our organization.
During my tenure in the position, I had the privilege to brief congressional members, heads of state, senior military officers, and foreign dignitaries. As you can imagine, it was a high pressure and high visibility position.
I had to keep a detailed calendar to ensure I was always on time. While most visitors were scheduled months in advance, every once in awhile, we would have a last-minute or a surprise visit.
Well, I guess you might have figured out my mistake by now. If you guessed I was late to the presentation because I didn’t put it on my calendar, you are right!
I was sitting at my desk when my phone rang. When I answered the phone, all I heard was a high-pitched voice asking why I wasn’t in the briefing room. As I rushed over to the briefing, all I could think about was being fired.
When I arrived, my partner was presenting. When he finished, I took a deep breath and started my part of the presentation. When I finished, I went straight to my boss’s office. I accepted responsibility for my mistake, and I apologized. He was upset, but he appreciated my actions.
So, how can you recover when you make a mistake? Karen Hertzberg offers five critical steps you must do to overcome your mistake.
- Be kind to yourself – Everyone makes mistakes so don’t let negative talk derail your thinking.
- Analyze what went wrong and look for solutions – Ask yourself what happened, why it happened, and how you can make sure it doesn’t happen again.
- Own your mistake and don’t make excuses – Owning your mistake helps you salvage your credibility.
- Apologize – Offer an authentic apology but don’t go overboard.
- Propose a solution – Lay out your plan to correct the mistake.
Remember your mistakes don’t have to end your career if you handle them correctly.
“It’s not how we make mistakes, but how we correct them that defines us.”
Rachel Wolchin
Are you taking critical steps to correct your mistakes?
Your leadership guide,
Kim
Dr. Kim Moore | Your Leadership Guide | kimdmoore.com
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