Workplace mistakes are inevitable. Here’s what you can do about it

No one is immune to making mistakes, as much as one tries to avoid them. In fact, if there’s one thing you can be sure of, it’s that you’ll be making plenty of mistakes both in your personal and your professional life. However, workplace errors often trigger harsher critiques and punishments from managers and peers and can leave a big stain on your resume. People tend to forget that professionals are just as prone to mistakes as anyone else and expect them to have impeccable behaviour, probably because the consequences of workplace mishaps can be quite severe and affect a greater number of persons.

For example, if an employee ignores certain safety requirements, such as working with dangerous equipment that they’re not supposed to use, accidents can happen and one of their co-workers can get seriously injured. And while the victims can claim compensation for the damages incurred in the accident, be it physical or psychological - you can find more information on the topic at https://www.accidentclaims.co.uk/ - the financial support they may receive as a result is not a magic wand that can erase all the suffering and the negative effects they’ve experienced. 

Whatever the causes for this attitude may be, it’s important to come to the realization that while we cannot avoid unpleasant incidents in the workplace altogether, there are certainly ways to prevent and reduce their likelihood. So, if you’ve been wondering what you can do to keep workplace mistakes at bay, this article will provide some useful tips and recommendations that may come in handy. 

Common mistakes made at work

Work mistakes take a number of forms, from awkward or even funny blunders to minor slipups or serious errors. That being said, some types of mistakes are more common than others in the workplace, and they often include: 

• Grammar errors or typos in emails  
• Misplacing important paperwork or equipment
• Financial errors such as forgetting to send invoices or getting the figures wrong
• Procrastinating and failing to meet a deadline 
• Being late or missing meetings 
• Misunderstanding an assignment
• Having unprofessional behaviour toward managers or colleagues
• Being unaware or ignoring safety policies and regulations  
• Engaging in reckless or negligent behaviour 

Steps to take after making a mistake at work 

Making a mistake at work often attracts feelings of guilt, shame, and fear. But just because you’ve committed an error doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world, nor the end of your career. There are certain steps you can take afterward that can help you mitigate the negative consequences and get your professional life back on track.

First of all, you should take responsibility for your mistake. Letting people know that you’re aware of your errors and you’re ready to face the consequences demonstrates professionalism and integrity, and proves that you’re on the right path. It’s also a good idea to offer an honest apology to those directly affected by your actions or behaviour, as a way to show your regret and willingness to make amends. 

Next, you have to assess the problem you’ve created and try to find an adequate solution for it. You can consult with the management in this respect and together come up with a plan that will benefit everyone involved in this matter. 

Last but not least, you should analyse the whole experience and figure out what you could have done differently. That will help you make smarter decisions in the future, should you ever find yourself in a similar situation. 

How to avoid mistakes on the job 

Knowing what to do after making a mistake at work is obviously essential for damage control reasons. But it’s just as important to learn how to avoid making these mistakes in the first place, so here are a few aspects that you should keep in mind. 

Stay focused on the task

When performing a certain activity, make sure you’re fully present and give your undivided attention to the task at hand. This means you should avoid multitasking – which has already been proven to be a myth anyway – and try to handle the most difficult tasks when your energy levels are high and you’re able to concentrate better. 

Eliminate distractions

One of the factors that can greatly diminish your ability to stay focused is represented by frequent distractions. Noises, notifications, movement, or constant interruptions are all responsible for ruining your focus and forcing you to split your attention between various ideas or tasks, which obviously increases the likelihood of making mistakes. Reducing or eliminating distractions, if possible, can help you stay on track and avoid unpleasant situations. 

Take breaks

Fatigue and exhaustion also bring a substantial contribution to workplace mistakes. If you insist on performing a task when you’re obviously too tired to function properly, the risk of errors increases significantly. Therefore, you need to take regular breaks and get adequate rest if you want to be productive and avoid making unintentional mistakes. 

Double-check everything 

Even if you’re pretty confident in your professional skills and abilities and you’re certain you’re doing a great job, it still wouldn’t hurt to double-check your work, just to make sure nothing escaped your attention. You know what they say – it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

Ask for help 

Knowledge is power in the workplace, in the sense that the more you know, the less likely you are to fall into traps and make common work mistakes. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for help when you’re unsure of how to handle a certain task or situation. No one expects you to be a know-it-all. This attitude will help you expand your skill set and prepare for the unexpected.  

Learn from past mistakes  

Although the goal is to minimise workplace errors as much as possible, there’s also a silver lining to them. For all the troubles and distress that they cause, mistakes are also a great teacher. So, if you happen to make a mistake, use that to your advantage and turn it into a valuable lesson. After all, if you don’t learn from your mistakes, you risk repeating them.