When You Need To Bounce Back From a Mistake

Making mistakes is uncomfortable, especially as accountants. While we are taught to strive for perfection, mistakes happen, whether we like it or not.?

Think about the last time you made a mistake.? How did you feel?? Frustrated, embarrassed, or disappointed??

The truth is that it’s normal to feel that way, but what truly matters is how we handle mistakes, not the fact that we made one.

The first place we have to start when discussing bouncing back from a mistake is the pressure put on accountants to be perfect.

The Pressure of Perfection

Let’s be real—there's a constant pressure to be perfect in our line of work. We're expected to catch every detail and avoid any slip-ups because even a small mistake can have big consequences.?

But here's the thing: striving for perfection all the time can actually do more harm than good. It leads to stress, burnout, and those nagging feelings of not being enough, which ironically makes us even more likely to make mistakes.

We often fear mistakes because we think they define us. In accounting, an error can feel like a spotlight on our flaws. But the fear goes deeper than just the mistake itself; it's about what we believe that mistake says about us.?

Does it mean we're bad at our job? Does it mean we're not trustworthy? Those thoughts can be really hard to shake off.

But let's flip the script for a moment. Mistakes don't define our abilities; they help us grow. The most successful accountants aren't the ones who never mess up—they're the ones who learn and bounce back.?

So, it’s crucial to remind ourselves that everyone makes mistakes, even in a job where accuracy is king. It's not about being perfect; it's about what we do after we stumble.

Understanding the pressure we put on ourselves is important, but it’s also key to know how our brains can lead us to make mistakes.

9 Reasons Why Mistakes Happen

Joseph T. Hallinan’s book “Why We Make Mistakes” explains nine common reasons why we slip up:

1. We see only what we expect to see – Our brain focuses on what's familiar, making us overlook important details that don’t fit our expectations.
2. We struggle to remember random information – We retain meaningful information better than random data, making it easier to forget things that lack personal context.
3. We make quick judgments based on surface details – Quick decisions help us save time, but they can lead us to overlook deeper, important factors.
4. We simplify complex information to make it easier to understand – In trying to make things clearer, we may accidentally leave out critical details.
5. We look for patterns to save time and energy – While this helps streamline our work, it can cause us to miss exceptions or anomalies that don't fit the pattern.
6. We remember past actions more positively than they were – Our brain tends to sugarcoat past experiences, making us underestimate the effort or challenges involved.
7. We overestimate our ability to multitask – Trying to juggle multiple tasks reduces focus, increasing the likelihood of errors in each task.
8. We misjudge how much we can accomplish in a short time – We often underestimate the time needed for complex tasks, leading to rushed work and mistakes.
9. Information overload leads to rushed decisions and mistakes – With too much data to process, our brains become overwhelmed, making it easier to miss crucial details.

Knowing why we make mistakes is one thing, but how our brains handle those mistakes is just as important.

The Brain’s Role in Dealing with a Mistake

When we make a mistake, our brain’s initial response is to trigger emotions like fear, shame, or embarrassment. This reaction stems from the primitive part of our brain, which treats mistakes as threats, causing us to panic.?

However, the brain is also equipped with neuroplasticity, meaning it can learn and adapt by creating new connections.?

Thankfully, when we practice self-compassion, we shift from seeing mistakes as failures to viewing them as opportunities for growth and improvement.?

This allows us to handle mistakes with a healthier mindset and bounce back more easily.

By doing this, you’ll not only improve your skills and resilience but also create a healthier, more positive relationship with your work and yourself.

Now let’s dive into some simple ways to recover and move on from mistakes.

How to Bounce Back from a Mistake

We all know that stress and feeling overwhelmed can make us more likely to make mistakes. That’s why, as accountants, we need to cut ourselves some slack when we mess up. When we’re always trying to be perfect, despite being stressed out and overloaded, it’s no wonder we struggle with handling mistakes.

But there are some helpful strategies that can make it easier to bounce back after a mistake:

• Own the mistake: Acknowledging the error openly shows accountability and helps rebuild trust with clients or colleagues.
• Learn from it: Identifying what went wrong allows you to prevent similar mistakes in the future, turning the situation into a learning opportunity.
• Find humor in the situation: When possible, laughing at mistakes helps reduce their emotional impact and allows you to move on more quickly.
• Avoid self-criticism: Instead of being hard on yourself, practice self-compassion, remembering that mistakes are a part of being human.
• Judge others less harshly: By extending understanding to others, you create a supportive environment that encourages growth for everyone.
• Focus on a supportive mindset: Encourage yourself to learn and improve, rather than getting stuck on the mistake, fostering personal and professional growth.

The next time you make a mistake, take a moment to reflect and ask yourself: "What can I learn from this experience to improve my skills and processes? How can I use this mistake as an opportunity to grow rather than letting it negatively impact my self-worth?"?

This shift in perspective can help you bounce back more effectively and create a healthier approach to both your professional and personal life.

If you’re interested in becoming a Smarter Accountant, you can take The Smarter Accountant Quiz at www.thesmarteraccountant.com .??

If you want to learn more about bouncing back from a mistake, check out this episode of The Smarter Accountant Podcast ?? https://thesmarteraccountant.com/when-you-need-to-bounce-back-from-a-mistake/

You can also download The Smarter Accountant Podcast Guide at https://thesmarteraccountant.com/podcast-guide/