Why You Shouldn’t Be Too Hard On Yourself After Making a Mistake at Work
Have you recently made a mistake at work? It’s easy to feel down on yourself and beat yourself up after you screw up at your job, but there are several reasons why this negativity is unnecessary. Here are 5 reasons why you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself after you make a mistake at work.
1. Perfectionism Isn’t Rewarded: In the real world, being a perfectionist rarely pays off. When you make a mistake, you’re going to learn something from it. And, no matter how slow your progress, you’re still staying ahead of everyone who isn’t trying. Remember, done is better than perfect.
2. Lessons and Growth: Some of the most effective lessons you can learn and some of the most effective methods of professional growth involve making mistakes. Trial by fire, failing fast and failing often, and having the knowledge to make better decisions in the future are all essential for career progress.
3. Admit Your Fault and Ask for Another Shot: Now that you’ve learned from your mistake, it’s time to fess up. Take responsibility, admit that what happened was your fault, and ask your boss for another shot. If you know you can turn things around and improve your results after a second try, this is a great way to redeem yourself in your boss’ eyes and show that you can learn and grow.
4. Negativity Only Breeds More Mistakes: When you’re too hard on yourself, you’re more likely to continue to make mistakes and errors on the job because you’re distracted. It’s important to get up, dust yourself off, and start fresh after making a mistake. Negativity only breeds more mistakes, which should be enough reason for you to stop being so hard on yourself.
5. Start Over With New Knowledge: When screwing up doesn’t lead to firing and doesn’t lead to your life being ruined, you’ll appreciate the ability to start over with new knowledge. This will help you avoid being too hard on yourself in the future. And, when you make a mistake, you’ll have the confidence to know that you can handle the situation calmly, professionally, and positively.
Making a mistake at work is never fun, but it can be essential to professional growth and happens to everyone at one point or another. It’s important not to be too hard on yourself in these situations, for the aforementioned five reasons. Avoid the negativity, keep calm, and find a way to learn from your mistake so it won’t happen again in the future.