6 Ways to Bounce Back After a Major Work Mistake

6 Ways to Bounce Back After a Major Work Mistake Mistakes happen. We spend a lot of time at work, so it goes without saying that a lot of the mistakes we make in our lives will involve the workplace. Though your first instinct may be to panic and hide your mistake or to just run away acting while under duress can cause mora harm than good. What matters most is how you behave in the aftermath of messing up. Everyone makes mistakes eventually, but not everyone handles making them well. Here are six ways to bounce back from a major work mistake without ruining your reputation.1. Try to fix the problem.Before you confront the necessary party about your mistake, ask yourself if there is a way for you to responsibly correct it on your own. If your mistake is minor enough that no one else has to know about it, start there but only if you are certain repairing it on your own wont cause mora harm than good. If you still need to bring your mistake to someone elses attention, have a couple o f different solutions in mind for how to move forward.2. Apologizeonceto necessary parties.Dont grovel. When we make mistakes, a first instinct can be to demonstrate how sorry we are by apologizing repeatedly. Unfortunately, though this idea may come from a good place, it can cause more harm than good. Having to reassure someone that theyre forgiven over and over can feel exhausting for the other party. So deliver one heartfelt yet dignified apology. Then, keep moving.3. Take responsibility.While you should absolutely tell the whole truth, avoid bringing other people into the issue. Throwing someone else under the bus will not help your case it will just earn you office enemies. Assuming responsibility demonstrates strong leadership skills that may even boost your reputation with bosses in the future.4. Accept the consequences.Mistakes often have consequences. Maybe you have to stay late every night for a month to double check data or call hundreds of clients and explain that an e rror was made thats being corrected. Whatever you have to do to right your wrong, do it humbly and without complaint. This shows that you take your mistake seriously more than repeatedly apologizing ever could. Moving forward positively can be a major way to show your bosses and coworkers that youre a team player who has the companys best interest in mind.5. Dont hide.Though you may initially feel embarrassed depending on the severity of your error and how many people know about it, showing shame will only make the aftermath worse. After youve apologized to the appropriate parties, dont hang your head about it. Dont seclude yourself in your office or opt out of giving ideas at meetings.6. Practice self-compassion.Easier said than done, right? If you find yourself replaying your mistake over and over, try to focus on how many things youve done correctly and pat yourself on the back for handling this error so well. Remember that mistakes are important teachers, and youre walking away from your mistake all the wiser.--Kayla Heisler is an essayist and Pushcart Prize-nominated poet. She is a contributing writer for Color My Bubble. Her work appears in New Yorks Best Emerging Poets anthology.