- [Narrator] Despite our best efforts, mistakes can and do happen at work. It's not the fact that you make them but how your respond that really matters. So hands washed and aprons on. Here's our step-by-step recipe for recovering from mistakes. 

Step one, take your time. As soon as you realize you've made a mistake, stop. Consider the facts. Is it really bad? And if so, how bad? Giving yourself some breathing space can stop you getting things out of proportion, or making the situation worse. 

Step two, manage your emotions. Panic, fear and embarrassment are all natural reactions when things go wrong. But these emotions can cloud your judgment and lead to hasty decisions you might later regret. Try to stay professional. Keep your cool and focus on what you need to do next. 

Step three, own your mistake. The worst things you can do are to pretend that mistakes didn't happen, blame someone else, or try to sugarcoat the issue. Instead, decide who needs to know about it and then ask for a few moments of their time. Explain what's happened, why it happened, and the potential damage done. Also, apologize for the mistake without going over the top about it. 

Step four, offer some solutions. The best way to recover from a mistake is usually to try and fix what's gone wrong. Offer a range of solutions, if possible. This might include involving others to get the job done. If so, try to return the favor when you can. 

Step five, expect some fallout. Sometimes the mistakes we make can have significant repercussions for ourselves, our team or organization, which can mean we lose people's confidence and respect. But, if you stay positive and work at it, you can rebuild trust and faith in your abilities. 

Step six, learn and move on. Once the dust has finally settled, reflect on what went wrong, what you could have done differently, and what you can learn from your mistake. Ask for feedback and use this to help you move on to bigger and better things. © 2022 Mind Tools by Emerald Works Limited.