Hi All,
Found out I made a mistake today which could delay an important element of work. It was a small mistake - two rouge words in an excel document that I forget to remove. I have no idea what the heck I was thinking at the time.
I've stuck my hand up to say its my fault, will clarify some things tomorrow to asses the impact and try to push through if possible. Problem is.... I can't stop kicking myself.
Anyone have a way of dealing with mistakes (especially when the impact is far reaching)? I know i'll make many more mistake in the future and heck if I don't I'll be failing to truly develop but... still keeping kicking myself.
:)
Root cause
Guilt, or self-kicking, is a mechanism. Its goal is to keep us from repeating our mistakes, by keeping the mistake in our minds.
I try to find out what the root cause was: did I not double-check my work? Did I not consider a risk that should have been considered? Did I think of myself first, rather than someone else?
Once I know why I made the mistake, I know what I will do differently in the future. Sort of "self-feedback", like, "what will I do differently?" Not just lip service, but a sincere dedication to making that one change.
That helps me move on. I'll make mistakes again, but they'll be different ones, bigger and better mistakes. That's progress.
John Hack
Right there with you.
Right there with you. Here's what I do to stop kicking myself. I analyze what I did wrong, decide what step(s) I will take to avoid the mistake in the future. And then move on with my life.
I'm heavily influenced by Dale Carnegie here.
1. "When you're wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically." (Sounds like you've done that. And remember, it's not the crime; it's the cover-up.)
2. "Once a decision is reached, act!" (I decided what I did wrong, then created a plan to avoid the mistake going forward. This usually lowers my blood pressure by 20 points.)
3. "Decide just how much anxiety a thing is worth and refuse to give it more." (Although still drained, I'm usually alright after a night's sleep.)
These are three of Dale's human relations principles. I took the course in 1989 and it remains the best single investment in learning since I left college in '77. Yes, I'm placing Dale ahead of MT because Dale's principles work well in my personal life. I've yet to figure out how to "manage" my wife or kids:-)
To quote the great sage
To quote the great sage MH "How You Feel Is Your Fault"
Thanks,
George
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