https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 11 May 2026 08:34:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2739537 Wed, 24 May 2017 11:05:00 +0000 808love 2739537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: Yes, that defensiveness rises up in me too. Good that the outcome wasn't as bad as you originally thought.<br /> I regret making mistakes in the postpartum cloud. I still make work mistakes. I am the queen of apologies at work. But I just keep on contributing because I want all the good stuff to outweigh the bad. Everyone around me makes mistakes too. I give grace often to others in those situations because I need it too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2739460 Wed, 24 May 2017 08:53:45 +0000 snowjewelz 2739460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@808love: It's so hard to fight off the need to jump on the defense! I mean, so many things went through my mind like well, that happened 1 week after I came back from maternity leave... I was still catching up and sleep deprived! Or like, well, they overload me with so much that I'm bound to make a mistake eventually! But everyone else basically affirmed and helped me get my head together to do what needs to be done. </p> <p>I still feel a little sting now a week later, but at least it's not as bad as I thought it could turn out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2738130 Sat, 20 May 2017 23:04:39 +0000 808love 2738130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just want to say hugs and thanks for sharing in your vulnerability! It makes me feel grounded and human to hear someone else go through something like this and helps me remember my moments of humility. The day you posted this I read but didn't have a chance to respond. I had to give my students the 'everyone makes mistakes' lecture that day because they sounded disappointed when I had made a mistake. I always own up to mistakes and correct myself and brush it right off but that was the first time I heard them grumble about it (ever so slightly but still) so the speech I usually give after someone else's mistake within a teachable moment --actually was used in my own fault for a change. Which felt strange but had to be done to enlighten everyone.<br /> But don't beat yourself up too long or too much for it. It is good you accepted your mistake and processed it in the moment instead of getting defensive and blocked it. I admire that. It is truly healthy and humble. @snowjewelz: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2736972 Wed, 17 May 2017 09:41:42 +0000 snowjewelz 2736972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: Yes, I just can't shake off how awful I feel! I'm sure I'll forget about it soon enough... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2736970 Wed, 17 May 2017 09:41:17 +0000 snowjewelz 2736970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I apologized for the blatant mistake/oversight, we talked about ways to prevent this from happening in the future, and I had told my boss privately that I am willing to personally compensate for this and he said no way, mistakes happen, as long as we make sure it does not happen again. Now I feel slightly better, but still horrible b/c I mostly am just beating myself up for it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2736750 Tue, 16 May 2017 15:42:38 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2736750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a nurse and have definitely made mistakes!!! It's so hard to feel the pressure of needing to "know everything"- I do so much in a day that sometimes I just space or miss something. I've never done anything to compromise a patient's health (at least not yet, my professor said every nurse makes at least one med error in their life). But I've created extra work for my supervisors or other nurses and I feel horrible. It's such an awful feeling. My supervisors are very understanding and I've never had any action taken against me. But I will always remember those mistakes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2736738 Tue, 16 May 2017 15:32:36 +0000 Mrsbells 2736738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: it happens to all of us. I made a huge mistake the other day and had to stay in the office with my team past midnight to fix it. I think what matters is taking ownership and not repeating it </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2736631 Tue, 16 May 2017 13:27:48 +0000 winter_wonder 2736631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry. I absolutely hate the feeling when this happens. Try not to beat yourself up too badly :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2736629 Tue, 16 May 2017 13:25:59 +0000 snowjewelz 2736629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Yeah... It's like I'm the only one that actually can't let go of the mistake :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2736625 Tue, 16 May 2017 13:24:04 +0000 winniebee 2736625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: totally agree!</p> <p>@snowjewelz: we are so hard on ourselves. I made a pretty big mistake at work a few years ago and the fact that I had an action plan in place when I met with my boss made a big difference. It all worked out ok in the end. Hang in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2736623 Tue, 16 May 2017 13:20:58 +0000 snowjewelz 2736623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: Thank you for sharing this... So you'd understand how badly I feel. I can handle this right, and my boss can be kind about it, but I'd still feel terrible. </p> <p>@gingerbebe: Thank you :heart: The not dwelling part is hard but I will try!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2736570 Tue, 16 May 2017 12:31:36 +0000 gingerbebe 2736570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How you handle the mistake will be more memorable (and honestly something positive to talk about in your review) than the mistake itself. Turn it into a strength/accomplishment by fearlessly owning it, fixing it, preventing it, and then once its handled, not letting it shake your confidence or put a chip on your shoulder. Once its done, don't dwell on it or talk about it, just move forward and kick ass. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2736565 Tue, 16 May 2017 12:23:55 +0000 Truth Bombs 2736565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work in finance and I once gave my boss wrong info that resulted in a $6,000 personal loss to him. I felt terrible, I mean, I was absolutely beside myself. My boss told me "you have worked for me for 7 years and this is the first time you've made a major mistake. It's fine! We are all allowed to make mistakes and learn from them!" It really put things in perspective for me. If you are generally very good at your job and work hard, if you make an honest mistake once in a while but own it and try to make it right, it's ok, and your colleagues will give you some grace. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2736559 Tue, 16 May 2017 12:16:54 +0000 snowjewelz 2736559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nwm: Thank you! You are totally right. Even tho I feel like crap on the inside I just need to project the opposite. I think I feel better if I think about what I would want someone under me to react and while I'd be mad at the situation that the mistake caused; I would def feel fine towards the person especially if they've already thought about prevention in the future. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2736555 Tue, 16 May 2017 12:10:56 +0000 nwm 2736555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i'm a big believer that it's not the mistake that you are remembered for, but how you handle it. literally no one is perfect at their job. acknowledge the mistake, take ownership (i never blame others but also think you can control people's impression of how big a mistake something is) and create a plan to fix it and prevent recurrence, and then move on! it always feels worst right when you realize a mistake, but i'm sure very soon it won't seem like such a big deal. sending encouragement! :grin: i would share a success story but honestly i've messed up at work several times and the details don't even stand out to me that much. i still feel like i'm good at my job. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2736552 Tue, 16 May 2017 12:02:00 +0000 snowjewelz 2736552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes... I already said it was my mistake; and since we communicate with overseas counterpart there is really nothing to do but to wait for an answer tomorrow. And I've already told my boss what I plan to do in the future, no matter how busy/overloaded, to make sure I will capture something like this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2736549 Tue, 16 May 2017 11:57:29 +0000 mrskansas 2736549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Own up to it, apologize for your mistake and then fix it.</p> <p>I've been in a similar situation before and it sucks, but you can and will recover from it just fine! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2736545 Tue, 16 May 2017 11:52:12 +0000 looch 2736545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, it's absolutely true that they will remember you for your dramatic fails, eventually, it will be funny, I promise.</p> <p>The worse thing that you can do is hide it, tell your line manager, develop a remediation plan if necessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2736542 Tue, 16 May 2017 11:48:00 +0000 azjax 2736542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What I do when I find I've made a mistake is make sure I have a plan for what needs to be done to correct the mistake, a communication plan for who needs to be informed/ who is impacted, and then I go to my boss lay it all out with complete honesty as quickly as possible. It happens to the best of us and I truly believe your boss and colleagues will maintain respect for you if you're forthright and proactive! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-mistake-at-work#post-2736534 Tue, 16 May 2017 11:33:04 +0000 snowjewelz 2736534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Please share some positive stories about recovering from a big/bad mistake at work! </p> <p>I missed something a week after I came back from maternity leave back in March, and somehow never caught it (and I'm usually super detailed/careful). </p> <p>I don't think anything will happen to me but I just feel awful like I failed at life :sad: Been in this industry for 10+ years, at this job for 4 years and have gone above &amp; beyond but I feel like all people will look at is when you mess up... </p>