So, it happened. You made a pretty major mistake on the job, and now all eyes are on you. Perhaps you missed an important meeting, published incorrect data, or angered a major client. Or maybe it’s a Julia Braverman-Graham level mistake, in which you’ve dropped the ball on a multi-million dollar deal. (This reference will only make sense to my Parenthood fans!)
The good news is that for the majority of us, TMZ won’t broadcast our mistake to the world. And the reality is: You can recover, no matter the size of the mistake.
We’ve seen it countless times. Look at former President Bill Clinton, Michael Vick, and many other examples of human beings who have made catastrophic mistakes that could have potentially destroyed their careers, but instead, they were able to get on the road to recovery.
Bill Clinton. According to an article in USA Today, Clinton is among the top 10 all-time wealthiest presidents! I was 23 and I still remember his address to the nation . C’mon, you remember it too. It went something like “I did not have sexual relations with that woman. . . “. And I’m sure you remember the day he had to eat those very words, humble himself before the nation, and tell the truth!
And remarkably, he recovered from that.
And what about Vick? We all remember 2007 and the charges of dog fighting that ended in his conviction. But, no matter how you may feel about Vick, one thing is for certain: his story shows that people can recover professionally from big mistakes! Many people have not forgiven his actions (and possibly never will), and he is still traveling that road to redemption, but there is no denying that he got a second chance in his profession to make millions doing something he loves. In fact, in 2011, he was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Recovery!
How do they do it? How do people recover after such devastating and public blows to their careers? We can use countless examples of celebrities, politicians, or people that we know personally to demonstrate that recovery is possible. The recipe for recovery certainly includes accountability, effective communication, and action.
As you know, I am a professional development trainer with K-Ferg Training, and the author of "Marketing You: Be STRATEGIC". When clients ask me about righting a wrong in the workplace, I share my 5 tips to recover in the face of a major mistake. Check out my tips below!
Get In Front of It
- Never hide behind what you have done or failed to do. We all make mistakes. Accountability is always key. Take responsibility for your mistake. That might be painful and uncomfortable at first, but you’ll increase your respect-factor tenfold by just being honest. People may discover that in the face of a challenging situation, you are honest, reliable, and dedicated to the cause.
Nobody is perfect, but try to avoid redirecting the blame to someone else. If it is your mistake, own the issue. Rather than comparing your mistake to the mistakes that other colleagues have made, just be available. Let people know that you are ready to take responsibility to work toward resolution.
Prevention
– It’s more than just coming up with a solution for this mistake. It is about creating strategies to prevent the mistake from occurring again. Key employees don’t simply react; they respond proactively. If all you ever do is react, someone can replace you.
This is an opportunity to learn from your error, and demonstrate that new-found knowledge by creating and recommending solutions.
Intentional, Strategic Communication
– Think about politicians or celebrities in the face of scandal. Many face the public with a skillfully crafted acknowledgement of wrong-doing coupled with language that evokes human emotion. While I certainly do not have a public relations professional at my beck and call to address responses to my missteps, I believe in the power of sending the right message with my words and tones. So tip number three is simple: Be very intentional and careful with your words. This is paramount. It’s about branding. It’s about communicating strategically and deliberately. You want to position yourself as trustworthy and dependable.
If you respond to the error with a lie, empty promises, or insincere words, it will be two-times as hard for you to recover and rebuild trust, when the truth is discovered.
Get Your Network Behind You
– So, you’re no Beyonce or Katy Perry. You don’t have an paid entourage that can get behind you and boost your confidence a bit. You are, however, a business professional with an extended network of power behind you. Sincerely communicate with your department, colleagues, and those within your network who may be impacted by the error. Lean on your inner circle for support. And align yourself with people that others trust. This will help you re-position yourself.
Get Over It!
Let’s keep it 100% honest. Every one of us has made mistakes. Once we have done what we feel is necessary to begin the recovery process, we have to forgive ourselves, and let it go. I have seen colleagues beat themselves up for weeks, months (sometimes years) over one mistake. What seems like a big deal today, may not seem as bad tomorrow. And if it does seem as bad tomorrow, continue to work to rebuild the trust that may have been damaged as a result of the error, but don’t allow the error to consume you.
Instead, see it as an opportunity to learn, grow, and develop. Recovery is not always easy. It’s not always instant, but if managed appropriately, recovering from a mistake is a reality!
(Top Image Source: Philly.com, Other image sources: Microsoft Clip Art Gallery, WikiMedia Commons)
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Kimberly A. Ferguson is a Learning & Development trainer and coach, a MBTI Certified Practitioner, the author of "Marketing You: Be STRATEGIC", and the owner of Excel Service Consulting, LLC.
For more information about Kimberly,
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- Visit her online at: http://www.kferg.com
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