Overcome a Mistake at Work in 10 Steps

This article was originally published on?CareerAddict .

If there’s one thing that history books can teach us, it’s that mistakes have existed for as long as human beings have. Take the mighty Trojans, for example, who accepted the wooden horse as a gift of peace, granting the Greek soldiers inside it an entrance into Troy. Or the Vikings, who gave Greenland and Iceland their names, when it’s painfully obvious that the first is covered in ice and the second in vegetation. And who could forget the Tuscans, who built the Tower of Pisa on a foundation of sand and clay, expecting it to stand upright?

While some miscalculations have gained enough notoriety to go down in history, the world has kept on turning despite their occurrence. What exactly are we trying to get at here? Well, the thing that’s brought you to this article (you know, the?thing?you did at work this morning) is both perfectly human and not as catastrophic as you may be telling yourself right now.

Below, we’ll look at some of the things you can do to feel better and become a more?skilled problem solver , minimizing the chances of repeating similar mistakes in the future.

Step 1: Don’t panic

Errors can range in severity and, therefore, so can their consequences. Whatever it is that you did — snapping at your supervisor, missing a deadline, or sending a confidential email to the wrong person — can seem like the end of the world at first.

However, reacting impulsively to the situation can make matters worse. Instead, it’s important to?maintain your composure ?as best as you can and let the “storm clouds” begin to dissipate before taking action.

Step 2: Acknowledge the mistake

The initial shock that succeeds an error can be paralyzing. With your adrenaline levels spiking, it’s likely that all you’ll want to do at first is run for the door and never look back.

When those first feelings lose their intensity, though, it’s important to approach the situation logically. Real life has no “undo” button, so it’s best to admit that the mistake has happened. The faster you do this, the sooner you’ll be able to arrive at an appropriate response or solution to the problem.

Step 3: Respond to the situation

As?Remone Robinson , chief people officer at Revolution Consulting, puts it: “Often, mistakes can be remedied if addressed quickly. By?communicating quickly, ?you’re able to devise a solution.”

It’s true: the quicker you can push aside your?feelings of shame ?and act, the better your chances of rectifying what went wrong. Whether it’s sending a follow-up email or getting someone on the phone, thinking fast on your feet can prevent a cascade of undesirable events.

Step 4: Process your feelings

Mistakes can send us in a downward spiral of self-loathing and self-pitying, which gets in the way of the problem-solving process. Not only that, but having the tendency to suppress emotions can have a?detrimental effect ?on both our mental and physical health.

Once you finally reach home at the end of the day, sit with any uncomfortable emotions you’re experiencing. Reflecting on what happened in your own time will help you feel better — just take care to be gentle with yourself.

Step 5: Identify what went wrong

Coming up with a solution begins with identifying the problem. Think back to what it was that caused you to blunder; was it absent-mindedness, a short temper, or an overestimation of your abilities?

Once you’ve defined the problem, you’ll be able to reduce the likelihood of repeating the same mistake. Perhaps moving forward, you’ll need to periodically make use of your vacation days so that?stress ?and fatigue don’t pile up. Or, after an honest chat with yourself, you may realize that your job?isn’t the right match ?for your skillset or?personality .

...

Read the entire article on?CareerAddict .

???Subscribe to our newsletter ?for more great career and productivity hacks :)