Do you ever make mistakes at work?

[WarmLightsAtNight]

I don't mean (touch wood) catastrophic end of the world errors that cause millions of pounds to fix. I mean things like typos, perhaps forgetting the odd thing, not double checking things and filling out forms and occasionally making errors like getting a date of birth or something wrong. So nothing that ruins anybody's life or anything but things that might need to be corrected now and then, things that other people aren't usually that affected by... but things you feel so embarrassed about and beat yourself up over? Even in senior roles?

I worry about these things ALL the time. When I look back I've spent so many weekends fretting about things like this and it hasn't even happened or has only taken a quick tweak that other people don't seem to beat themselves up over.

It always seems like everyone else is perfect as well!

I do, i obviously try not to but everyone makes mistakes. Those who say they don't often spot the mistake before anyone else and fix it. I run some reports weekly at work for a certain data inputting aspect, it's specially to look for mistakes (not big financial ones but like wrong dates or fields missing on the system) every week there is someone's name on from senior management to the lowest pay grade and everyone in between.

Of course, everyone does. I try not to, and have strategies to minimise them, I will double check dates of birth and spellings of unfamiliar names for example to make sure they are correct.

What's important is that I'm honest about any mistakes once I realise them, work to fix them, and learn to do better. Someone might call me an idiot, and I may have been. But no-one can claim to never make a mistake, we all have our moments.

Of course. Everyone does. My boss asked me to read something he'd written and I corrected a few typos. You can read government policy documents that have been reviewed by hundreds of people and you'll always find a mistake.

Yes you're right. I'm told I worry and care far too much. I just absolutely hate making mistakes. Always imagining I'll get dismissed and never find another job because I'm so thick.

If I hit 99 targets and fuck up one. I'll only think of the one.

Yes, everyone is human.
Although I stress less since the days of WFH as I can always check on my laptop and sort it out there and then.

It would be impossible for us to work at the pace we deliver projects with the resource constraints we have and not make mistakes.

It is the risk the business takes and I don't fret if I make a mistake as I know my boss has my back, and I have made some beezers in my time.

Ha, I’m just beating myself over a work situation from today.

I don’t do admin sort of mistakes often, mine are more of the nature - didn’t have all the info/background, was put on the spot and have answered a question in a sub-optimal way. Then cringed and worried I’ve ruined my credibility and career for days. 🥸

I rarely used to make mistakes until I started a new job, and the management constantly micro managed and nit picked. The mistakes on my part became more frequent and, therefore, more nit-picking. I ended up having a breakdown.

Everyone makes mistakes. Depending on your work this can be a bit annoying or catastrophic

I probably spend too much time re-reading emails and documents etc to check that there aren't errors and still a few slip through.

As a manager what strikes me is how differently people act when its pointed out. Most people will be mortified and most of them will do everything they can to put it right. However, I have one staff member who makes a huge amount of mistakes, doesn't apologise, acknowledge the error, try to resolve it etc. There's not even a shoulder strike. If anything she makes matters worse.

All the time. Everyone makes mistakes. That’s what systems are for to prevent mistakes causing problems.

Yea of course because nothing and no one is perfect OP!

Even the great brains of our time make mistakes or miss things!

I saw a good video of Elon musk the other day, he was explaining a product to an interviewer who made a suggestion about it. Elon later came back to him and said “yeah we never saw that, thank you for pointing it out, we’ve changed the process” etc. Like even people at the top of their game miss stuff.

Look at it this way, if you noticed a typo in a colleagues email would you point it out to them or make an issue or would you literally glance over it, have a 2 second thought about it then move on with your day?

If anyone ever points out an error to you, don’t say things like “oh sorry that’s my mistake etc” - say “thanks that’s a great spot”, you’re just reframing it from a mistake you need to apologise about to a totally normal regular occurrence that needs nothing more than a quick “cheers for the spot” and move on.

Of course if you’re repeatedly making the same mistake that’s a different matter but occasional blips aren’t a big deal.

OP have you ever heard of impostor syndrome??

I recently ordered the wrong part for something. No biggie, I can reorder the correct part which is £25 but they are charging me £60 for delivery!

Everyone makes mistakes

Oh yes. It's me. I'm hiding behind a good reputation and a long history in a reputable firm. But I'm now a year into my new job and I'm absolutely certain they all see the truth - I am utterly useless.

Sorry i know this is an old thread but are you feeling any better OP?

I'm having this problem at work atm too. I've been at this firm for a long time but I'm training for a new role and I'm making more mistakes as I'm learning to do new things. I know it's all part of learning but it makes me feel so inadequate having to ask colleagues to correct the mistakes.

Of course. My boss made a massive mistake just before I started my new role and it cost the organisation over £400k 😧 All because he didn’t read a single tab on a spreadsheet! I was told this by someone else on my team and told it was best not to mention it to him as it was a bit of a hoo ha at the time 😂😂