Priska Neely, radio journalist at NPR's Gulf States Newsroom, shares insights on handling and recovering from big mistakes at work. The podcast covers topics such as managing up, communication, difficult conversations, and credibility. They discuss the fear of making mistakes, the impact on manager-employee trust, and tips for moving on and refraining from constant apologies. Listeners' questions about workplace blunders are also addressed.
Mistakes at work should be handled with transparency, accountability, and a focus on learning and growth.
Creating a supportive environment that encourages open communication, feedback, and seeking help can help alleviate the fear of making mistakes.
Deep dives
The pressure of making mistakes in a new job
Starting a new job can be stressful, and the fear of making mistakes is heightened, especially when you're new. The pressure comes from a shift in perspective, where every detail carries more weight and the stakes feel higher. Inexperience and the desire to make a good impression can contribute to this stress. However, mistakes are a part of the learning process, and it's important to recognize that they do not equate to failure. The key is to handle mistakes with transparency, accountability, and a focus on learning and growth.
Creating a supportive environment for handling mistakes
As a manager, one of the crucial aspects is to establish a supportive environment that encourages open communication and learning from mistakes. This is done by setting clear expectations from the beginning, having open conversations about supervision and feedback, and creating a culture where asking for help is encouraged. Providing guidance and being available to answer questions can help alleviate the fear of making mistakes. Additionally, having a buddy system or trusted colleagues who can provide support and guidance can be beneficial in navigating challenges and seeking advice.
Gaining perspective on mistakes and feedback
Gaining perspective on mistakes is essential in overcoming the fear and anxiety they can generate. It's important to understand that not all mistakes carry equal weight and that some outcomes may not be as catastrophic as they initially seem. Seeking feedback from managers or colleagues to understand their perspective can help clarify the impact of the mistake and provide guidance for improvement. Recognizing that managers and colleagues have their own priorities and may not be overly focused on individual mistakes can help alleviate the self-imposed pressure and foster a healthier mindset towards mistakes.
So, you messed up at work. How do you move forward?
This week we’re talking about how to handle your first big mistake in a new job. We’ll learn how to own what happened, regain trust, and move forward.
For radio journalist Priska Neely, making a mistake in a news report or broadcast can be a very public experience. She leads a team of reporters at NPR’s Gulf States Newsroom, and it’s her job to guide her team through all of their mistakes – big and small.
Priska helps host Elainy Mata understand why mistakes happen at work – and offers her perspective as a manager on what your boss might be thinking when it happens. Plus, she takes listener questions about workplace blunders.
Have a career question? Let us know at NewHere@HBR.org.