Problem at Work 9: Mistakes and Losses on the Job

This concludes our series on problems at work that can lose you your job or stall your career

Everyone makes mistakes. Some mistakes have little impact. Hopefully, you identify and correct most mistakes before anyone sees them. Occasionally, mistakes get past you and have great impact. Some mistakes only affect people within the company. Others hurt clients. Still other mistakes go viral and damage everyone’s reputation. Those mistakes can kill, not only stall, your career.

How to Avoid Letting Mistakes Get Seen by Others

You can implement a few simple safeguards to avoid making mistakes. You cannot implement all of these ideas for each piece of work completed. You would never get your job done. Periodically, however, you can spot check:

• Measure twice and cut once remains good advice
• Quadruple check your work before submitting it
• Ask someone with strengths that compliment your weaknesses to check your work
• Use technology helps (like spell and grammar check) but don’t rely on them
• Avoid arrogance, pride, or fear that leads to mistakes—don’t get complacent

What to Do When Your Mistake Becomes Known

Tranquilheart offers good ideas:

• Admit your mistake
• Present your boss with a plan to fix your mistake
• Don’t blame anyone else for your mistake
• Apologize for your mistake, but don’t beat yourself up
• Correct your mistake on your own time

Mulling at Work offers additional tips for when you make a mistake at work:

• Take responsibility
• Analyze the failure
• Avoid beating yourself up (it’s good to hear this one twice)
• Keep it in perspective
• Talk it over with someone you trust
• Give it time
• Consider Training

I emphasize the point that both Tranquilheart and Mulling at Work stated first. Admit the mistake quickly. Never try to cover it up or hide it. Acknowledging the mistake and submitting your ideas for resolving it show responsibility and initiative.

In conclusion, I share a series of comments to About.com’s question Tell Us About a Mistake You Made at Work. Read their answers and your mistake will seem less disastrous.

Join me on Monday when I share a few success stories from my clients