Everyone makes mistakes — it’s inevitable. You will not be perfect, so instead of pretending you are or ignoring your mistakes, it’s always better to own up to missteps and try to address issues honestly. In fact, owning up to your mistakes is one of the most effective ways to grow, improve and foster strong relationships with others. It’s smart for both your personal life and your professional life to understand the right way to own mistakes, address problems and move forward.
One of the most important things to do after realizing you made a mistake is to remain calm. Panic can lead to hasty, ill-contrived apologies, poorly constructed solutions and even more mistakes. Take a deep breath, stay calm and think clearly and calmly about the most appropriate thing to do next. After you have had a second to take a deep breath, you can develop a plan that will help you address the mistake and fix the problem. It is always better to be thoughtful and intentional when attempting to address errors.
Once you know the best way to address the problem, do not lose any more time. Address issues promptly before there is time for hard feelings to develop and additional problems to arise. After you have done the right thing, take time to reflect on what happened, how you could have avoided the issue and how to do better going forward. Without reflection and honest evaluation, you may repeat the same mistake in the future.
After taking all of the steps necessary to owing up to your mistakes, the last thing you have to do is move on. The great thing about mistakes is that while they provide great opportunity for growth, you are not defined by them. You have to give yourself permission to move on, put the past behind you and strive for excellence going forward.
By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC