10 Mistakes to Avoid at Work
#5: Being Afraid to Make Mistakes
Let’s face it: everybody makes mistakes at work. It’s inevitable. If you plan to work for more than a day over the course of your lifetime, you are going to make a mistake at some point. You don’t want to be so scared to make a mistake that you’re paralyzed at work. To make a good impression and have an impact at work, you must show initiative, and that’s impossible to do if you’re too worried about messing up. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. They are a good way to learn something you aren’t likely to forget.
#6: Not Admitting You Made a Mistake
This one can really come back to haunt you, especially if someone else discovers your mistake and outs you before you come clean. The best policy is to admit a mistake right away and offer up a solution to fix it immediately. People make mistakes. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Accept responsibility for your mistake, fix it, and move on.
#7: Not Being Able to Handle Feedback
You must develop the ability to process constructive criticism, or feedback that may be difficult to hear, in a productive way. The worst thing you can do is become defensive or shut down. The person who is trying to help you (most likely your boss) will realize you can’t handle feedback, and he or she will stop giving it to you. People who take the time to offer you constructive criticism do so because they see potential in you and they want to nurture it. If you are getting emotionally overloaded with what you are hearing, simply say, “Thank you. I hear what you’re saying, but I need some time to digest all of this.” You can always go back to the person later and ask some clarifying questions.