Owning Your Mistakes - MAC055

I was reading through LinkedIn the other day and there was a post by Jason Feifer, the editor in chief of Entrepreneur magazine, where he had made a mistake but owning up to it and correcting the issue lead to an overall great outcome.  That post inspired this podcast episode.

It can be scary when you make a mistake.  Depending on how impactful that mistake is, there is always the possibility of severe repercussions.  If you are insecure or unconfident, your first reaction may be to try to hide or cover up the mistake.  But, that may actually make the situation worse.

So, what SHOULD you do when you make a mistake?

The first thing you should do is acknowledge that you made a mistake.  This doesn't have to be an overly complex statement, just state what you did wrong and don't try to deflect blame to others.

Next, explain the situation that lead to the mistake.  This isn't an opportunity to make excuses.  If possible, offer potential solutions so that the mistake can be avoided in the future.  Even if you don't have a solution, by describing the root cause, your team will have the information they need to make any required adjustments.

After acknowledging your mistake and explaining the situation, the next thing you should do is apologize.  Be clear and genuine and show that the negative results were not intentional.

Next, you should address the impact your mistake has had and how you are mitigating that impact.  What steps have you taken so far to correct it?  How have those steps improved the situation?  What steps will you be taking in the future?

The last thing you should do when you make a mistake is reflect on the situation and determine what you can learn from it.  In your next one-on-one or coaching session, be sure to bring it up to get insights from your leaders and mentors on how this situation can lead to personal growth.

If you take those steps to address your mistakes, you will find that once the frustration with the immediate situation has passed, owning your mistake will lead to a greater sense of trust between you and your team.  The demonstration of accountability and the willingness to learn and grow allows the team to know that you are team-focused and not self-serving.  This can build credibility with the team.  If you have a position of leadership, it sets a positive example and encourages the team to be more transparent.

One thing that WON'T be a mistake is engaging with a career coach the help you learn and grow as you advance your career.  Reach out to me via the contact form on the ManagingACareer.com website.  I will arrange an introductory session where we can talk about your career goals and how I can help.  If we are a good fit, we can schedule regular coaching sessions or I can refer you to other coaches I know that may suit your needs.