Whether we are talking about our personal lives (such as family) or our professional lives (such as work), we have all made mistakes. If you have made it this far in your life while claiming you have never made a mistake, you are telling an untruth. Mistakes at home or work are how we grow personally and professionally. Here are some tips for being open and honest about your mistakes.
Do Not Get Defensive – If you know you are wrong, you will only make things worse by getting defensive about your mistake. It is human nature to feel ashamed. It is also good human nature for people to be disappointed in you. There will be a wave of embarrassment, but if you lash out during that phase, you only dig yourself into a hole. Take time for a deep breath, look inside yourself, accept what you did, and allow time to process the feelings of regret and disappointment. This is also the perfect time to evaluate yourself and look over everything that led up to the mistake to prevent making another one in the future.
Fix Your Mistake as Quickly as Possible – One of the best ways to be open and honest about your mistake is by owning up to it, but the next best thing to do is “fix it.” This is especially true if you are at work. Do not let your boss sit and stew over your mistake to think of any repercussions. Own up to your mistake and fix it. However, sometimes there is no way to correct an error. That is when you sit down with anyone you have wronged due to your mistake and give a heartfelt apology. Do not just say sorry and walk off; explain what happened, define the steps you will take so it won’t happen again and offer a solution to mend any wrongs you have done. People will respect your effort, as no one is perfect.
