How to Make Mistakes Like a Champion (Or At Least Prevent 3rd Degree “Crash and Burn”)

Ever made a mistake or misstep and didn’t know how to unwind it? There’s hardly anyone on the planet that hasn’t experienced this. What if there was a way to come out unscathed on the other side of it??

To highlight this, let me share an example from my past.??

I was interviewing for my dream job (I thought) at Arthur Anderson. I was intent on working for one of the Big 8 accounting firms and managed to land an interview.?

I walked into my first interview and was surrounded by an office full of ducks. Wooden ducks. Pictures of ducks. Pictures of him hunting ducks.

“So,” I exclaimed, “you really like ducks don't you?”

We talked about ducks for an hour. The whole interview was all about ducks, nothing but ducks.?

I didn’t really get the chance to show off who I was.

I got the job anyway. Warning sign #1 that I may not be a cultural fit for the organization.?

Of course, Arthur Anderson was known as the “Marines” of the Big 8 accounting firms. Everyone wore white shirts and blue, black or gray suits.?

But I was different. I was a rogue.

One Valentine’s Day, I walked into the office in this beautiful ruby red suit. Quite a stunner. After all, it was Valentine’s Day!

Thereafter, some men started coming to work in colored shirts. Some women started wearing colored suits, too. I was there only a short while and already I was changing the internal culture iof the organization. I was happy with it, but was everyone?

We worked crazy hours. One week you could be on an audit that took 80 hours. The next week, you were in the office with nothing to do. Nonetheless, you were supposed to look busy. What did I do? I went sailing. I like to sail.

Soon, some of my co-workers asked where I went. I told them.

They asked if they could come. Of course you can!

Once, during an audit, the manager asked me to reconcile something ridiculous. I complained to the partner on the audit. He agreed, what the manager wanted was ridiculous.?

“Pull out when you’re losing, don’t wait until you lose more”

Shortly thereafter, I was ushered into the managing partner’s office. Look, we can’t technically fire you, he said, but we want you to go. You’re a bad influence, he told me. If you go quietly, he continued, we’ll give you a nice severance package. Please take it.?

Arthur Anderson was known as the best...but it wasn’t the best fit for me. I knew it early on, but never made a decision to unwind it.???

Knowing what I know now, I would have made the decision to seek out my alternate destiny sooner.?

Interestingly enough, making better decisions is one thing that my clients seek my help on.?

Here are 3 steps to “Pulling Out From a Mistake”:

1.Decide that a change needs to be made?

There’s very few decisions that can't be unwound. Why waste time in your life by pretending that things are ok??

2.Admit you were wrong?

Admitting that you were wrong, or that a misstep was made is quite empowering. Not only will it release the pressure out of a situation, you will gain most everyone’s respect.?

It can be as simple as saying “Hey, I'm sorry, but I made a mistake”.?

Not only that, but it also saves all back channeling discussions about you.?

3.Tell them the lesson learned from all of this.?

Doing this will increase everyone’s knowledge base for the future, and make it easier for the entire group to make better decisions for the future.?

Melinda Fouts, Ph.D., is an executive coach. She coaches a range of clients-those in transition, those needing a thought partner and those needing more tools in their toolbox. Her experience as a practicing psychotherapist allows her to discover her clients’ blind spots, which helps them focus on improving their communication and management skills.?

Melinda is in Aspen, Colorado. You can reach her at 970-274-3130 or via email. You can get on her calendar here.