How to recover from a mistake at work

Source:Robert Half

 

Everyone makes mistakes, and managers are no exception.
Unfortunately, because of your status and responsibilities, your
missteps may garner more attention and have more consequences than if a
junior employee did something similar. It’s important to know how to
recover from a mistake quickly and move on. Below are a few examples of
managerial errors and some tips for making a comeback.




You’re a micromanager

A good boss knows the difference between managing and micromanaging.
Employees want supervisors to trust them to make decisions and work
independently. When you watch over your employees’ every move like a
vulture, they feel as if you’re just waiting for them to slip up. Such
an environment isn’t conducive to high morale or job satisfaction.


If your own boss has told you to stop micromanaging, what do you do
next? It may be difficult, but the first step in recovering from this
mistake and regaining workers’ trust is to acknowledge your
shortcomings. Tell your direct reports you’ve been squandering their
time and talents with your micromanagement and that things will be
different from now on.


Follow through on your word. Give them decision-making power and, as
the “Frozen” song advises, let it go. More important, ask them to hold
you accountable in case you slip back into old habits.




You didn’t give good instructions

When employees don’t get enough direction or the right information, they
can take a project down a different path than you expected. Nobody
wants to start a project over from scratch because they were given vague
or confusing guidelines. Misdirection can even make employees feel like
they were set up for failure.


If you’re guilty of giving bad directions, you owe your team an
apology. Express regret for not explaining the assignment better, and
then make sure they’re clear on exactly what they need to do going
forward. In the future, avoid situations like this by giving clear and
detailed instructions, asking for questions and comments, and checking
in periodically to make sure nobody is heading into the weeds.




You really stepped in it

The press loves writing about executive blunders. Whether it’s an
unfortunate slip of the tongue, getting caught in a lie or losing
millions of company dollars, a public mistake is embarrassing and gut
wrenching — and you think you’ll never get over it. While some
executives are fired or asked to resign over a misstep or poor judgment,
most survive the fallout.


But how to recover from a mistake, especially when it damaged the
company’s reputation (not to mention your own) and/or cost money to fix?
For one, there’s no need to fall on the sword, although one in three
managers surveyed for a Robert Half survey said they’ve accepted blame for something that wasn’t their fault.


However, if you were the one who erred, here’s how to get back on
your feet and put the mistake behind you. It won’t be easy, but it is
necessary.




1. Say you’re sorry. Apologize to your boss,
shareholders, the board, people who work for you, the public — anyone
who felt the repercussions of your mistake. Don’t dodge or get
defensive. Accept full responsibility for your actions.




2. Fix the problem. Can you undo the damage or
salvage the situation? If not, do whatever you can to mitigate the
impact of your mistake. If you’ve made a bad hire, for example, take the onus for firing the person and recruiting a replacement.




3. Live and learn. The worst mistake is not the one
you just made, but failing to learn from it. We are the sum of our
experiences. Furthermore, don’t let this one get you down and make you
afraid to take risks in the future.


No one wants to fumble on the job, but it happens. Use the incident
as a growth opportunity for yourself, your team and your organization.
Knowing how to recover from a mistake means the difference between
regaining people’s trust and losing their respect — or even your job.