Whether you’re a seasoned veteran in your workplace or you’re just starting out- you are bound to make mistakes. In knowing this inevitability you must prepare yourself to be accountable for the mistakes that you’ve made.

The first tip we can offer is- don’t make mistakes. Aren’t you glad it is so simple? Realistically though- lots of preventable mistakes are made due to rushing, not reviewing you work, and plain absent-mindedness. In making an effort to be more present in your workplace you can easily cut down on the things you will be held accountable for and avoid any reputations as a poor performer.

The next thing you can do is become really good at apologizing. Make sure that your audience (client, co-worker(s), and/or boss) knows that you sincerely regret the circumstances and the actions that led to them, identify the source of the problem, and be ready to provide multiple solutions. This way you are one step ahead of those that are going to be put out due to the situation at hand. Try something along these lines-

Dear Boss,

Despite my best efforts I have realized that I will be unable to complete x project by y deadline. Though I was          trying to be proactive in the situation I should have accessed the project and compared that to my time                      restraints and resources before taking on such a substantial piece of work. I have prepared an alternate                    project timeline and have outlined the teammates I will need to partner with to meet these deadlines. Is                    there a time that you will be available for us to discuss this in person?

Best Regards,
Your Name

 

Finally, don’t let your mistakes become habits. The difference between making a mistake and just doing a bad job is not correcting or learning from your mistakes. By constantly developing and learning you are cultivating an advanced skill-set that will be essential in progressing your career trajectory.