Embrace mistakes

There is a post over at lifehack.org that discusses the Rules of Engagement. This is a great short post that talks about how to handle yourself in a respectably professional manner.

There is a list of 9 things to keep in mind. Item number 7 is my favorite.

7. Own up to your mistakes and be okay with them. Making mistakes is perfectly fine for we all make them. However huffing and puffing about them with excuses and justifications is not fine. Get over it (we already did) and just correct it.

How often do we run and hide from our mistakes? I think it’s human nature to not want to be called out on a mistake we’ve made. And the ironic thing is that it’s human nature to actually make mistakes. So if we could all just try and remember that, no matter what side of the mistake we are on. People mess up. Own up to it and try and fix it. I have found that when I mess up (and I’ve messed up HUGE before), that going to the people the mistake affects and letting them know that there has been a mistake and I’m working on the solution that they are, for the most part, pretty understanding. I also know that when I’ve tried to hide, or cover up mistakes, they seem to compound and grow and I am on eggshells hoping to not be found out. And one thing I know for sure. That does not make for a successful working environment.

Also mistakes help us all to learn. If we had never made the mistake of jacking the handlebars on our bikes 90 degress while going 900 mph down a hill, we’d never know that that was a bad idea (it is a bad idea by the way). Embrace mistakes and see them for what they are… opportunities for growth.