You are not alone. We all make mistakes, and when we do, it immediately sends us into a panic. We fear the worst and over analyze each little thing we could have done to prevent it. It’s not until some time after that we realize things are not as bad as they first seemed. Making mistakes makes us human, but we need to remember there are always ways to fix an error. Here are seven ways you can recover from a mistake and bounce back better than before:
1. Look at the cause
Mistakes often make us cringe to the point that we never want to think about them again. Whilst that may be tempting, it won’t help. You have to think about why the error occurred to even begin to fix it. Was it out of fear, rushing, confusion or tiredness? Once you’ve identified which you can begin to understand the mistake in order to learn from it.
2. Take a breather
In the instant moment that a mistake is made, it’s almost impossible to think logically. You’re distracted, panicked and unable to see things clearly. Get up, step outside, breathe in some fresh air. This will force you to look at things in a new light, making bouncing back much easier to tackle.
3. Put things right
Once you have calmed down, it’s time to jump into action. You’ve identified why you made the mistake, eased the panic and are ready to have a fresh outlook on the situation. Now it’s time to do everything in your power to put things right. This could be anything from apologizing, staying late or showing you’re trying to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
4. Look for the positives
Negative thoughts are bound to flood your mind after making a mistake. But in every error, there is a positive to be found. Whether it’s you learning something new, improving your ability to cope with stress or showcasing your ability to manage a bad situation. Remember it’s not all doom and gloom.
5. Make sure it doesn’t happen again
The best way to bounce back from a mistake is to learn how to prevent it. There is absolutely no shame in error, but making the same mistake twice should be avoided. Now try to minimize the risk of it happening again. If you realized your mistake was due to lack of knowledge, bounce back by learning all that you can in the area.
6. Don’t be too hard on yourself
Whilst it’s a good idea to analyze the situation, be careful not to fill yourself with too much self-doubt. You’re human and it could have happened to anyone. To bounce back with confidence you need to let go of blaming yourself and hold your head high. Yes, it was the wrong thing to do, but we can’t be right all the time!
7. Move on
Once you’ve taken all the necessary steps, the final and most important bounce back method is to accept the mistake and move on. It’s in the past, it can’t be changed. Dwell on it too much and it will stay with you and eventually prevent you from success in the future.