On the Job by Anita Bruzzese When You Make a Mistake at Work

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese When You Make a Mistake at Work Its always tough to mess up at work. Feelings can range from chagrin over committing a blunder to outright fear that you might be fired for your mistake.Still, its important that you have a plan of action for when you goof up. Without one, you may panic and make the error worse, or do nothing, which can always come back to haunt you.Some plans of action for recovering from making a mistake include:Owning it. Before the office tattletale can run to the boss to share the news of your mistake, go to the boss and tell her what happened. Be factual about the incident and accept full responsibility.Taking the chip off your shoulder. If you have a defensive, whining but-it-wasnt really-my-fault attitude, the boss will focus only on that, not your explanation. You will not seem sincere, and thats critical. Maintain eye contact and keep your voice level, but strong.Focusing on the fixing the problem. As soon as you explain what happened as briefly as possible, immediately move into some ideas you have for making sure it doesnt happen again. It irks a boss when a mistake is made, but it double irks him when he has to figure out how to fix it. By saving him this step, youve taken the pressure off him, and that can always help minimize the damage.Getting in the zone. If youre badly rattled by a mistake, take some time to go for a short walk, splash water on your face or do anything else that will help you focus and have a professional demeanor. Even if the boss screams or yells, dont lose your composure. You made a mistake, you didn't commit murder. Keep it in perspective and keep reminding yourself that everyone makes mistakes. Asking for help. If you believe you goofed because you needed more direction from the boss, say so. I know this report is late. Ive put some steps into place, but Id like your input in the early stages to make sure Im on track. That way, you can kick me into gear earlier if I need it, you say. This shows that youre focused on the goals of the team, and not afraid to do whatever it takes to make sure targets are met.