School of Hard Knocks
Taking chances, making mistakes, it is the most natural thing in the world when you are a young kid, when you are a teenager, and then at some point in your life we learn that mistakes are to be avoided – at that point it is no coincidence that we stop taking chances.
Here are some things to keep in mind when you are taking chances and make the inevitable mistake.
- First, recognize them. Be open to the possibility that when you are moving fast, or trying something new you are more likely to trip up, so don’t be surprised. Keep a watchful eye on early indicators that you are off track, know what to look for and build into your process checkpoints to take in learnings and course correct.
- Second, admit them. It is never easy to admit you made a mistake, avoid the blame game, own it and don’t dwell on the past. By owning the mistake you are also allowing yourself to take away learnings and move forward.
- Third, take corrective action. Understand the impact, look to manage the impact of the mistake and do something about it. Communication is often a key tool in correcting mistakes, don’t hesitate to let those impacted know what is happening and how it will be corrected.
- Finally, keep pushing forward. Don’t let a mistake get you down. Don’t beat yourself up and by all means don’t avoid trying new things or pursuing opportunities that will move your business forward.
Only by taking chances and pushing the envelope do we find out what is truly possible. In the words of Albert Einstein, “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”
YOUR CHALLENGE: Give thought to what area in your business you are currently playing it safe and what might be possible if you were willing to try something new.
If you would like to learn more about how this might apply to your business, let’s talk:
