4 Mistakes Everyone Makes at Work (2024)

Summary.

Everyone makes mistakes — in fact, they’re necessary for improvement. Here are four kinds of mistakes you might experience at work, and how to bounce back and learn from each.

1. Aha-moment mistakes. These happen when we do something as we intended, but later realize it was the wrong thing to do. When making this kind of mistake, take a moment to reflect and identify what you can learn and change going forward. You can research new techniques, observe skilled professionals who have expertise in the area you’re struggling with, engage in deliberate practice, or seek out guidance from coaches or mentors.
2. Sloppy mistakes. These are the errors we make when we know better, the ones we kick ourselves for because we’ve already learned the lesson. While it’s important to quickly fix any errors you’ve made, it’s also vital to identify the root cause — the system or habit that led to the mistake — so you can make the necessary adjustments to prevent it from reoccurring.
3. Stretch mistakes. These are the errors we make when we’re stretching ourselves beyond our current abilities. Stretch mistakes might feel uncomfortable when you make them, but it’s often worse if you’re not making them at all. If you never step outside of your comfort zone, you could be at risk of stagnating or falling behind. While stretch mistakes provide valuable learning opportunities, be wary of making them in high stakes situations. It’s best to experiment when the potential damage is minimal.
4. High-stakes mistakes. These mistakes are those with significant consequences, so naturally, we want to avoid making them. It’s important to identify with your team when and how to focus on improvement and when and how to play it safe and focus on execution. This will help you grow from stretch mistakes, while avoiding high-stakes errors.