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?

When I mess stuff up at work (not often but does happen) or am trying support another colleague's cock up I remind them that no one died. Now I realise that depending on your job that may not be the case, but the vast majority of jobs even the worst mistake doesn't result in anyone's death. Mistakes happen - forgive yourself and vow to slow down and move on.

@billandbeninsanfrancisco You’ve apologised I’m sure, been honest and open about the mistake... as others have said; you’re a human, these things happen, it’ll feel better after a glass of wine and good nights sleep.

OMG, I read you title and thought somebody had died as a consequence of your error!

So you made a mistake.
How the other party reacts to it, is not within your gift to change.
If they choose to be 'very offended' then that is what they will be and you will have to bear the brunt of that.
Whether you are good at apologising or not, you have apologised, you have offered an explanation for how the error might have occurred (not an excuse, an explanation), you will now have to allow the other party to decide how they wish to proceed.

They will either get other themselves get things in to perspective, realise that you have done very good work in the past and likely will again in the future (at low cost, no less) and the advantage of continuing a relationship with you/your organisation. Or they won't.
Which may be upsetting or even costly to you, but it is beyond your power to change it and you will need to move on.

Drink and stoopid Netflix movie tonight. Tomorrow, see what the lie of the land is.
V best of luck.

You have apologised. You have done what you have to put it right. You have taken responsibility for your mistake. You appear to have caused death or disability to another single living person. You weren't charging top dollar for what ever services you were providing.

It might be worth asking yourself if the person who is really, really offended is responding proportionately. It might be her problem, not yours. Does is the charity one which works mainly by condemning people?

some great posts here - as a very senior professional, I will just say, it is sometimes great for your team to see you make a mistake, own it, and learn from it - its a good opportunity to exhibit the proverbial "growth mindset" - and you are super tired so your reaction is going to be more extreme than necessary - focus on how to mitigate that going forward so you can get some rest

How would you have reacted to anybody else who came to you and said that they'd used the wrong colour background? You'd have helped them and probably reassured them that everybody's human and you'd deal with any fallout.

Treat yourself the same way you'd treat anybody else. And let's face it, with that sort of client, there's every chance they'd be screaming and shouting because you used 12pt instead of 11.5 or Pantone 274C instead of 275.

Thank you all latest posters. You all make sense. No it is a charity that supports people with a specific healthcare condition. In answer to a previous question, these patients have been having a tough time.

You are right though, nobody died.

Org A client has been reassuring me. She's a wonderful woman too.

So is Org B. Maybe she will come round.

@MitziK I know but it was the actual logo....

But yes, I would tell the junior team member everything I am not telling myself.

You are all correct (I think, can't quite shake the feeling that what else can you say?) But fundamentally, I feel so much better for this, I am going to drink and try and find that episode of that programme.

I have nothing much to add, other than - I'm sorry you're exhausted and had a shit day. You're being hard on yourself because you care, it's very obvious that you do. The client will get over it.

PS I'm also very senior and fucked up today - gave a flippant answer to a query that should have gone through the technical team. Yep, got it wrong. Not a massive deal but even so, I should've checked and not been so bloody lazy.

Hm.

With the greatest respect, OP, I think you could do with a bit of assertion.

I wonder if deep down you are just a little bit pissed off that you do all of this work for free? How are you feeling about your boundaries?

It sounds to me like you are overextending yourself, exhausting yourself, for not proper compensation.

Be careful not to to fall into martyrdom.

You are human, you deserve recompense, you certainly don't need to take someone's 'fury' over what sounds (complicated, but as far as I can tell, fairly minor?) like a pretty inconsequential error.

I find that working pro bono pretty much guarantees we'll be treated like crap, interestingly, and any time we offer to work for cut-rates, etc, the jobs turn into nightmarish time-eaters. I'm no longer sure it's in the best interests of anyone to have that kind of working relationship.

Just throwing those thoughts out there ...

That said, the ability to handle a complaint well can sometimes actually do more for one's brand than you'd think. That doesn't necessarily mean self flagellation, just honesty and active listening.

@RonaldMcDonaldio to you too. Thank you.

As one of my teachers used to say; "Those that have never made a mistake have never made anything!"

I'm a twat is the upshot.

It sounds more like your clients are currently being twats, or perhaps are just as stressed out. I've worked for charities. At times they do demand the moon on a stick whilst paying well below the going rate. You made a mistake, you actually are human, no matter your age and seniority.

And as PP have said, do watch that they're not taking advantage of you. Maybe see this as a sort of early warning that you need to change things so that the chances of stressed-out mistakes are reduced.

If I was the client I would want to hear about how busy or underpaid you are. That’s none of my concern. BUT, regardless of your error I would hugely appreciate a genuine apology and a offer to discuss what can be done to rectify the situation. I would accept the mistake because we all make them.

I second @Scrimpshawthesecond . I'll be honest with you, you sound like quite hard work.

There's a part of me that wonders if you are really that upset about this or whether this is all a martyrish performance.

Sorry I meant I wouldn’t want to hear how busy you are...

Literally every one of us has fucked up at work at one time or another. It's called 'Being Human'! Please don't beat yourself up OP.

Very good points by Scrimpshaw, brava.

Definitely be kind to yourself. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone has had these moments. I have and I felt like I wanted the world to swallow me up. It is also the way I work, I sometimes take too much on, and then make minor but occasionally important mistakes.

Being professional is how you cope with mistakes. Don’t completely cowtow would be my advice. Be apologetic, but firm. Voice a lot of her feelings back to her and talk to her in person if you can - so if she says ‘This is completely unacceptable’ don’t argue, or be meek - say ‘I understand that you feel it is unacceptable to you.’ And leave some silences but look like you want to listen. Your client wants to feel that they’ve ‘sounded off’ however is unlikely to do anything.

You are human everyone makes errors don't beat yourself up. As many have said no one has died and believe me some professionals make such errors people do die.

You have to take off the hair shirt and stop the self-flagellation at some point. It does sound a little bit like you want the woman at Organisation B to issue the Get Out of Jail Free forgiveness card we're all giving you – you know, the repeated "I'm senior, I shouldn't make mistakes", until Org B swoop in and say "It's OK!" because you've done all this emotional recompense.

They might never say it's OK. They're entitled to be annoyed. I think you have to apologise, which you've done, make amends, which you've done, put in place processes to ensure stuff like this doesn't happen (who signs off on the designer's work? Why are you posting and not a junior), and move on. No one is going to get a good day's work from you while you're up on the cross.

@PrincessBuggerPants seriously?? That actually made me laugh. I get @ScrimpshawTheSecond point but that's a bit harsh isn't it??

OK. Thank you to everyone.

I thought I’d made a mistake the other day and totally freaked. Applying for a grant twice by mistake. I felt so awful I was shaking. Found out later that it was all ok. Anyway, the thing I realised (apart from getting better checks in place) was that I need to work on being ok with making a mistake or letting people down. Or disappointing people. Sometimes it happens. And to realise that making a mistake doesn’t make you an awful person. I haven’t quite got there yet but that is what I’m currently thinking about.