Even if you manage a team and want your subordinates to avoid mistakes, you first need to come to terms with your own fallibility. In a company where any misstep is a nightmare, this is not easy. However, mistakes hold a treasure – we can learn from them and move forward.
We all want to be the best, to succeed in everything we do. But by trying not to step wrong, we often sabotage ourselves. If we see a mistake as an unforgivable failure and proof of our inadequacy, it’s hard to move at all. We stick to familiar waters and do only what we already do well – until it becomes a boring routine.
Imagine if a small child thought this way. It would never leave the cradle, because learning to walk means falling countless times. But a toddler keeps getting back on their feet, trying again and again until they succeed.
Later, learning can be complicated by parents or teachers who (in good faith) say the child is holding the cutlery wrong or riding the bike incorrectly. What is presented as a mistake is often just a matter of opinion – a subjective perspective of the mother, grandfather, or teacher. Our society, built on respect for authority, doesn’t make this any easier. So if someone accuses you of a mistake, try to consider whether it’s just their point of view.
Successful People Make Mistakes Just as Often as Unsuccessful Ones
Successful people also make mistakes, but they deal with them differently. For example, Thomas Edison admitted that while inventing the light bulb, he discovered 10,000 ways that didn’t work. Successful people focus on what can be improved rather than letting ego tell them, “You’ll fail, you’re incapable, everyone will see you as a fool.”
Do you know that annoying voice in your head? What exactly do you want to do, but are afraid you won’t succeed? A useful exercise is to visualize your intention and ask yourself: What’s the worst that can happen if I try? By naming your fears, they become tangible obstacles, which you can plan to overcome.
Opportunity to Spark Creativity
A mistake does not necessarily reflect your intelligence or abilities. You might make an error because you were tired, unwell, distracted, or lacked optimal working conditions.
Of course, not all mistakes are equal. Fatal errors, like a poorly packed parachute, malfunctioning car brakes, or a surgical error, are hard to forgive or fix. Yet even these contain the “pearl” mentioned earlier: a lesson to be learned.
How to Handle a Mistake That Has Already Happened
1. Acknowledge the mistake
Don’t wait. Small mistakes tend to grow into bigger ones. It’s better to “put out the fire” immediately.
2. Don’t dwell too long
Avoid self-pity or blaming others. Focus on understanding the cause in order to move forward quickly.
3. Minimize the damage
Find the best possible solution, possibly with help from a friend, colleague, or supervisor. Your response matters more than the mistake itself.
4. Learn from the mistake
What did it teach you? Mistakes can boost creativity and help you respond more flexibly in the future.
Managers Are Thrown into the Deep End
Mistakes happen to everyone, including leaders. For managers, the stakes are higher because errors affect not only themselves but also their team’s satisfaction and motivation.
Often, managers have technical expertise but lack training in leadership. They struggle with delegation, giving clear instructions, controlling too little or too much, addressing problems, and managing their team effectively. Even respected professionals can “fumble” as leaders, learning through trial and error.
Fortunately, there is a wealth of specialized literature and professional courses. The most effective way to master management – including handling your own mistakes and those of your team – is through an MBA program. Management skills are a major focus, and all knowledge can be tested in practice. Why climb a tree and risk falling when there’s a ladder right next to it?
