Learn From Your Mistakes

"To make no mistake is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future." - Plutarch

 

We all make mitsakes. Darn it, I misspelled 'mistakes!' Instantly, I feel irritated at such a simple error. Sound familiar? We all hate making mistakes, even when we know they are inevitable. Think about the last mistake you made, even if it was a minor one. Maybe you spilled coffee on a document seconds before you were going to present it. Likely you had an instant rush of panic and irritation and felt the inconvenience of re-doing the work. It is easy to give in to getting irritated and staying irritated by repeating this scenario over and over in your mind. Instead of beating ourselves up over them, we should use them as learning experiences. What could I have done differently? How will I improve my chances of success in the future?

 

When we are interviewing for a new job, we often have to submit a resume.  Our resumes show our accomplishments and experiences.  What it does not include are the mistakes we made along the way. Of course, we would not include them, but in reality, the mistakes tell a story of their own, not of failure, but of our endurance and the opportunities we had for growth and change. It is not the mistakes we made that matter, but what we have learned from those mistakes.

 

Likewise, it is critical to remember that knowing that we all make mistakes and understanding others will make them too. No one is immune to making mistakes. We are only human. Empathize with others when they make mistakes. Often the mistake was indeed in error and not intentional. Be cautious about criticizing others for their mistakes, and be quick to console and forgive. Remember, "To err is human, to forgive, divine." 

 

The goal is to stop repeating the same mistakes over and over again.  Here are some tips to put into practice:

 

First, own up to your mistakes. You can't start the learning process from it until you admit that you've made it. So, take a deep breath and take ownership of it. Let those who need to know about it, what has happened. Apologize for it, and move on to working on a resolution. This in itself is part of the healing process.  It takes courage and strength to own up to your mistakes and even more to apologize for them. People will remember your courage and integrity long after they've forgotten about the error in the long run. Own your mistake, learn from it, and work to never repeat it. When you've acknowledged your mistake, think about what you could do to prevent it from happening again. For example, if you didn't follow a process properly, consider introducing a more robust checklist or a more straightforward process document.

 

Secondly, try to look at the error from another perspective. How you view your mistake will determine how you react to them in the future and influence how you will take action to correct them. It is human nature to view errors from a negative perspective the instant one happens. It can create instant shock and discomfort when a mistake occurs. It is often in this negative perspective that we dwell. This won't help solve the problem. Instead, try to reframe your mistake as an opportunity to learn.  I am not saying to brush it off, as ok like nothing happened. A learning opportunity is not the same as an excuse for careless behavior. But we should see the mistake for what it really is…just a mistake and a learning opportunity. If you see it as an opportunity, you will find yourself more motivated and become more knowledgeable and resilient in the future. "Making a mistake" is not the same thing as "failing." A failure is the result of the wrong action, whereas a mistake usually is an improper action. So, when you make a mistake, you can learn from it and fix it, whereas you can only learn from a failure. Stop beating yourself up, pause for a moment to reflect, and start thinking about how you can gain from the situation. Your mindset plays a significant role in how you view your mistakes and, importantly, in how you react to them. If you have a "growth" mindset, you likely see mistakes as an opportunity to improve and not as something that you are doomed to repeat because your perspective is "fixed" on the belief that you can't improve.

 

Thirdly, analyze what happened from a process standpoint. What was I trying to accomplish? What exactly went wrong? At what point did an error occur? Was there something that caused the mistake? Keep asking 'why' until you get to the root of the issue. It's at this point it can be correctable. It should reveal what led to the mistake in the first place so that you can decide what needs to change to avoid a repeat of the error.

 

Fourthly, practice what you preach. What did you learn? What changes did you make to put into practice? Here, you need to identify the skills, knowledge, resources, or tools to keep you from repeating the error. Be intentional about putting these things into practice to avoid the dangers of falling into the same old routines. Chances are, acting on what you've learned will require the discipline and motivation to change your habits or change how your team works. Doing so will help you avoid self-sabotage in the future and allow you to reap the rewards and benefits of implementing better work practices. Do so with care, though, because "quick fixes" will likely lead to further mistakes. Any actions that you take to implement your learning need to be enduring and something that you can commit to.

 

Finally, be aware of your progress along the way. Mistakes are going to happen, but are you avoiding making the same mistakes over and over? Have you developed a new approach and response when a mistake does occur? You may have to try out several ways to put your learning into practice before finding one that successfully prevents you from repeating past errors. If your mistake was a minor or a personal one, personal goals and action plans will lay the groundwork for implementing the lessons you've learned. They can give you a timescale to work to and a list of the tasks you'll need to complete.

 

To err is human, and we don't have to punish ourselves for our mistakes. They can be great opportunities to learn and to develop on a personal, as well as an organizational, level. We just need to learn from them and to put that learning into practice. Smart people learn from their mistakes. But the real sharp ones can also learn from the mistakes of others. Just as important as it is to forgive others for their mistakes, we need to forgive ourselves for our own. We need to learn from our errors, work to improve, and move on. But if we simply apologize and carry on as before, we're in danger of repeating the same errors. When we don't learn from our mistakes, we inflict unnecessary stress on ourselves and others, and we risk losing people's confidence and trust in us. Admitting to your mistakes and showing that you have learned from them can help others understand that making mistakes is just a part of life.  

 

Make today great!

 

Curtis

 

"We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future." - Steve Maraboli