Save Face After Making Mistakes at Work

Save Face After Making Mistakes at WorkSave Face After Making Mistakes at WorkDont panic. Making mistakes at work is a fact of life. There are times when we all wish we had double-checked our figures, reread an email before hitting send, or removed our foot from our mouths before speaking. Though it feels terrible, theres a lot to learn from making mistakes at work, even in the world of accounting and finance.First of all, youre notlage alone. According to an Accountemps survey, more than four in 10 professionals (45 percent) said theyve cried at work. Fifty-two percent of the respondents said theyd lost their temper while on the job.Making a mistake is just one of the challenging situations that can lead to such emotional outbursts. It ranks up there with overbearing bosses, coworker conflicts, personal problems and heavy workloads.Once you acknowledge your error and take steps to correct it, you may emerge wiser and more capable of greater challenges ahead. But first, start saving face. Here are five steps to take to start that process.1. Forgive yourself for mistakes at workAfter making mistakes at work, you likely feel embarrassed, fearful and frustrated. Maybe you raced through your day trying to finalize next quarters forecast when you suddenly realized that the report you emailed out earlier has an error in column K, rendering your analysis way off the mark. Youre mortified and petrified that your mistake will cast a pall over your performance forever.Take a small amount of time to acknowledge what happened, and then let it go, because you have repairs to make. Pull yourself out of the gloom of realizing youre not perfect.2. Confess and take responsibilityAlthough its important to understand why the mistake happened, this is no time for excuses. Take responsibility, apologize to all affected parties for your misstep and promise to do better in the future. Avoid blaming coworkers or circumstances (though you may want to consider whether certain distractio ns in the workplace led to your flub). Keep in mind, theres a difference between acknowledging fault and berating yourself. Own up to your part but also display confidence in your abilities. Lastly, if your manager or peers have sound advice, use your listening skills and be open to their ideas to resolve the issue.Ready to explore your options in the job market?SEARCH TEMPORARY JOBSSEND US YOUR RESUME3. Do what you can to set things rightCreate and communicate your plan to set things right, such as volunteering to work extra hours to undo the damage. If you caused a ripple effect that is now out of your ability to stop, let your boss or coworkers know you would still like to help, even if it means taking on some of their projects. This will help you rebuild accountability and trust. When the dust settles, follow up to see if there are additional action items you can complete.4. Take stock of what youve learnedThis is where you can find the silver lining. This experience could revea l hiccups in your process or help you be more careful in the future. Ask yourself, What will I try to do differently? What still works? Ask peers for feedback on how you could have avoided this blunder. Check in with your boss on the aspect of your work where the error occurred. You may have thought you understood the process, only to discover you do not. Think of yourself as someone who embraces lifelong learning.5. Get back to work or move onDont dwell. This mistake was one moment in your career, likely amid myriad successes. So, get back into your daily work while applying your new insight. The bottom line is that one mistake - even a big one - doesnt have to derail your career. Focus on your ongoing self-awareness and improvement, while regaining faith in yourself and restoring it within your team. Failure is part of life, and your response will demonstrate your professionalism and resilience.If you find yourself after this experience hating your job - or if youre fired becau se of your mistake - discover the job opportunities that are out there. Get your references in place and your accounting resume updated. Compose your comeback story and start anew.