Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, you’ll learn from them

Making a mistake at work is part of professional life. But the secret to moving on from your blunders is to learn from them.

During the past few years of building my career and business, I have made a few mistakes. These are often minor issues such as introducing two people using the wrong names, forgetting to double-check a presentation before it went up on screen or not finding out a client’s full requirements before pitching a marketing idea to them.

When you first launch a business, or first enter the workforce, screwing up is a given. No one expects you to get it right all the time. Even the chief executive of your company made mistakes along the way. Which is why I plan to share a personal experience and show you how to emerge more confidently from making a mistake of your own.

Four years ago when I first started my small fashion line business, a multi-brand boutique opened in town. It was exactly the kind of place I wanted to carry my line. Their consignment agreement was quite different to other stores that already sold my clothing and I did not bother to find out what this new boutique expected from me. I sent them my proposal the way I had written it for the other stores, assuming it was great the way it was.

So how do you think that made me look? Like someone who did not care enough to find out their requirements. My proposal was turned down of course. I was left embarrassed and sad to have to cut ties with a company I was looking forward to working with. It was a big lesson for me in paying more attention to the details before submitting a proposal.

We all make mistakes and while it is comforting to know that you are not alone, here are a few tips on how to rebuild your confidence after messing up:

— First, do not be hard on yourself. Whether you feel upset, angry, embarrassed or annoyed, acknowledge the feelings you are experiencing then leave it at that.

— Forgive yourself for messing up. You are only human. No one expects you to be perfect. When your friends make a mistake, you often console them by saying that they should not be hard on themselves. Treat yourself that way as well.

— Consider your error from a more positive angle. Mistakes can teach us valuable lessons. Look at the situation as a learning experience and find out how you could better yourself and avoid similar situations in the future.

— Be grateful for your mistakes. Take a moment to reflect on the valuable lessons embedded in these types of situation. Do not dwell too much on something that happened in the past. Leave it there, where it is supposed to be.

— Discard any factors that allow you to mess up. Are there certain colleagues or situations that contribute to your mistake-making ritual? Perhaps it is a person who keeps giving you the wrong advice, or a factor in your business that is not aiding your growth. Take the time to evaluate the cause then address it.

— Last but not least, practice makes perfect. Whether it is rehearsing a speech over and over again until you master it or mastering a new software program, do whatever is needed to help your confidence grow.

It can be hard to regain confidence after taking a professional knock. Nevertheless, keep in mind that everyone, including the people you feel you embarrassed yourself in front of, have all made mistakes, maybe even worse than yours. The important thing is to learn from those errors and pick yourself up ready to tackle the world once more.

Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer based in Abu Dhabi. Follow her on Twitter: @manar_alhinai

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