I just made an awful mistake at work

[billandbeninsanfrancisco]

I don't know what to do with myself. It was on social media. A client I have really been trying to impress, I just accidentally posted the wrong thing. Something we had designed, I didn't notice a graphic had snuck in there to do with another campaign they don't support. I am very senior. She is really, really offended. It was late, I was tired. I'm massively overworked and doing jobs I shouldn't be doing. I don't need help fixing the problem (it's far too convoluted), but can anyone help me with the devastation?

Sounds like you go above and beyond and do far more than perhaps you are meant to for their financial contribution and they take advantage of that.

Give yourself a break. You made a simple error. Have removed it and apologised.

But do not grind yourself further into the ground because your horrror allows them to take advantage.

I admit, I'm curious about this, too. It's for another client so not even their business. What's to be offended about?

Just imagine you are a Catholic Church charity and the other is pro-Abortion?

Charities are the WORST clients, OP (not that you need me to tell you that!)

TRUE!
They expect you to do work ''For the love of it'' and the 'Kudos' of it.

But sounds like the Charities here are getting a pretty good deal...So unlikely to go anywhere else. {Hopefully} .

Hi OP,

As others have said you are human, you are working really hard and doing your best. You made a mistake, you apologised. Stop being so hard on yourself. This feeling will pass, we’ve all been there with one thing or another I’m sure, I know I have. It literally feels like the end of the world, then you find a way to put it in perspective and the feeling will subside.

I can’t help but think she is being overly dramatic about it. It’s not your fault these two organisations are in a bit of a tiswas with each other. It must make working conditions incredibly difficult. I bet you are not the first to do something like this either, it must be like walking on eggshells constantly.

I know it won’t feel like it at the moment but it will all settle down. Let’s face it we are living though a pandemic at the moment, much much worse things are happening to people than this. I say that with kindness. (Oh god, I hope your work isn’t directly to do with CV...... strike that pandemic comment if so, it will not help you feel better at all!)

Be kind to yourself OP

Perhaps your (unconscious) strategy was to unite them both against you?

Will you remember this in a month's time? a year's time? That's the technique I'd use to try to stem the devastation.
Fwiw OP I did something similar once - think coalition statement versus individual agency statement. It wasn't deliberate but it could have been viewed as pushing one agency at the expense of the coalition. One of the coalition partners was quite sniffy about it but tbh I'd forgotten all about it till I read your post so life does go on and everyone will move on.

It sounds like an episode of working moms on Netflix where she inevitably upsets her client about something.... Perhaps out that on and have a laugh!

Oh OP, you could be me. Sounds like we work in a similar environment, with similar clients. I am also similarly overworked and despite being senior, am operationally all over an account doing work that a junior should be doing because I care about getting it right.

Firstly, I had some amazing advice a while ago. Fast forward 6 months, how will you feel about this? This is a tiny blip in an otherwise amazing period of producing incredible work for clients that aren't paying the going rate. They will know how much you care, and they will be delighted to have you on their account. This will not linger, even though it feels catastrophic right now.

My advice for right now is get in front of it with the client who doesn't know. Tell them what happened, explain how you acted with the best of intentions and you're incredibly sorry, but an error was made and then list how you're rectifying it. Also point out how you'll ensure it can't happen again. Be honest, be accountable and then, as other have said, let it move on.

Sounds like Client B is acting like a tit and overreacting, but it could that right now, she's terrified about the future for her charity and her job and her mortgage, and you just got both barrels because of it. She'll calm down and know that in the grand scheme of things, it's tiny.

I know you'll feel like shit tonight - I'm just the same and will dwell on all the things that went wrong. Try, if you can, instead of beating yourself up, but listing all the things that went well and all the times you've made a very real difference - it will make you feel so much better.

And then eat chocolate and drink wine.

Fuck it. Did anyone die on an operating table. No....

How would a man handle this - 'Apologies, dreadfully sorry - you're right to expect better, won't happen again'. And you're back to thinking you're God's Gift.

They sound very touchy and up themselves.
Has anybody outside of their rarefied little world even noticed?

It's nothing, really nothing in the scheme of things. Imagine you were the person at Asda who designed and sent out packs for kids that promoted grooming and paedophilia. That really would be something to feel bad about.

Fuck it and move on.

@multivac I've just spotted your comment about charities

I think, now you've apologised/explained, the bigger issue here is to address your own exhaustion.

Everybody makes mistakes, no matter how senior. But the more tired/overworked you are, the more likely it is to happen - never mind what it's doing for your own mental health.

Why are you doing jobs you shouldn't be doing?

Look at this as a huge wake-up call. Step back and think about why you have ended up (or put yourself) in this position.

Don't take on more than you can manage as you are setting yourself up for failure!

And breathe

Everyone makes mistakes and when I make one I always tell myself ‘at least nobody died’! Everything else can be fixed 💐

Sorry to say you will probably get the 4am fright wake up, if you manage to get to sleep at all!

I am interested in you saying that you are doing work which should be done by a junior. Perhaps it might be worth thinking of employing someone to help out with more simple tasks? There are some brilliant young people around who are looking for entry jobs: I have worked with several myself and their enthusiasm more than makes up for some initial lack of experience.

@LeopardPrintKnickers thank you, be amazing if it turned out we did. Have been doing my best to keep this anonymous maybe I failed. Agree that she is having a hard time at the moment and is probably worried.

@1WildTeaParty I love that. maybe I will use that

All your comments seem to be true to be honest. I have to suck it up don't I?

You know what? I’d use it as an opportunity to renegotiate the contract! You describe the work as massively underpaid - say to them that means the work isn’t resourced to the level of the requirements and you’ve been lenient on their demands due to them being a charity. However this episode has shown that it’s false economy and that you need to get additional resource in to cater for their needs to avoid similar mistakes in the future. It’s ballsy I admit, but might make them value the work more and not be so critical.

Something similar happened to me recently. An embarrassing and avoidable cock up due to overwork and doing too much. I feel for you.

My takeaway message (it’s a few weeks on now), is that the people you try and help the most can be the least grateful and easily offended. The action for you (and me) is better boundaries, not taking on too much, knowing when to say no. And sometimes reminding people of everything you have done that was above and beyond. If they’re still unhappy they can find someone else to do the work.

Mistakes happen, they just do, regardless of who you are or who you're working for.
The important thing is how you handle it - you owned up, took responsiblilty, corrected it as soon as you were aware of the issue.

"also the main point is that Org A is actually going to be horrified that I have cocked it up on their behalf"

They probably won't be happy but don't spin up a huge screaming deathwish in your own head otherwise you're just getting all the stress twice for no reason. Give them their chance to decide how big a deal it is for them.

Tell her the way you put it on here, OP. it came over really well as perfectly sincere but tired and stressed, and apologetic. Anyone would understand, surely?

@Rainbowshine and @SheilaHammond it seems like you understand where I'm at. Thank you good advice, and I do agree Rainbow, really. They don't have it, but you're right about the message.

I do feel better. MN is great. A little while ago I posted (name change) because I'd fallen out with my husband and mentioned I was drinking too much. I was absolutely crucified and thought of turning my back. Glad I didn't. Thanks you wonderful women.

Thanks @HyacynthBucket - do you think?

@billandbeninsanfrancisco if they can’t afford to pay more then at least you could “recalibrate” what they get for the money. Again it’s about the value placed on the work and showing that they’ve been getting a bargain.

@billandbeninsanfrancisco

I'm knackered though. We do loads of work for both Org A and Org B that is massively underpaid because both charities. I (very senior) basically do the job of a very junior person, usually very well. I REALLY care about both orgs.

Well check out charities on charities commission if they make good money, you will feel a lot better. The charity sector which I worked in for years, two different charities, we were always trying to get blood for our buck. We only pulled it off because of people like you who we underpaid or blagged for free.

"But I shouldn't be making human errors."

Why? Are you not human?

No one died. No one got hurt. No one lost their job. It sounds like the person suffering most as a result of this mistake is actually you! We all make mistakes and it's okay. You've apologised and made it right - now just let it go. Don't punish yourself or allow it to change your perception of yourself. We all make mistakes, every single one of us.

I think sometimes the best thing is to have a big cry and then be really, really kind to yourself. If this had happened to your partner or best friend, what would you do? Probably pour them a big glass of wine and give them the most massive hug and tell them how great they are. So make that happen for yourself