How do you deal with making a complete f*& up?

dcglobalgirl
dcglobalgirl Posts: 207 Member
in Motivation and Support
How does one recover equilibrium and go on after royally f*&ing up at work? I can't stop obsessing.
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Replies

  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    Depends. What did you do? Details, details.
  • Meloyelo2010
    Meloyelo2010 Posts: 171 Member
    Forgive yourself, own your mistake and do better tomorrow.
  • Pedalpush
    Pedalpush Posts: 246 Member
    Take responsibility and be part of the solution to fix it.
  • JoolieW68
    JoolieW68 Posts: 1,879 Member
    Own it, admit it, fix it if you can, and move on.
  • Schmetterling14
    Schmetterling14 Posts: 35 Member
    Keep working. My guess is that if you went back and thought over the time at work (years, probably), you would find many many many more "f******* awesomes" than "f*** ups". Take the "long view."
  • nlwilliamson
    nlwilliamson Posts: 225 Member
    Own up to the mistake, apologize and accept that you are human and thing happen. I have made many mistakes at work, but you pick yourself back up and work even harder to make it right :) Its ok, everyone makes mistakes and no one is perfect. I understand the obsessing over it, but don't beat your self up, it happened, and you just need to move on and work to make it right :)
  • InvidiaXII
    InvidiaXII Posts: 315 Member
    Sepuko. No, just kidding. I would try to just move on. If you didn't get fired over it, it probably wasn't that massive of a f*&# up in the grand scheme of things.
  • RhonndaJ
    RhonndaJ Posts: 1,615 Member
    Own it, admit it, fix it if you can, and move on.

    This.

    Edited to add: And if part of the problem is facing the bosses and/or coworkers, hold your head up and remember that there's not a single one of us that hasn't effed up majorly at least once, or will.
  • ChristyRunStarr
    ChristyRunStarr Posts: 1,600 Member
    Take responsibility and be part of the solution to fix it.

    I second this
  • sofakingawesome69
    sofakingawesome69 Posts: 149
    Recognize the F Up, move one and never repeat it. That is why we F up..
  • Il_DaniD_lI
    Il_DaniD_lI Posts: 1,593 Member
    Try to cover it up best you can, blame someone else if possible.
  • abnerner
    abnerner Posts: 452 Member
    I've learned if you obsess over it, you will continue to make mistakes. I have a pretty unforgiving boss when it comes to mistakes and they are often brought up again after the fact. So it's hard, but I have to understand it was a mistake, make a conscious effort to make sure it doesn't happen again and eventually move on. We are all human and mistakes can happen.
  • ErB56
    ErB56 Posts: 71 Member
    Short term amnesia. It is no different than, say, a binge day eating. Dwelling on it does not make it go away, it just makes you feel bad. It's in the past. You cannot change it. Forget about it. Focus on tomorrow and the things you have control over.
  • JoolieW68
    JoolieW68 Posts: 1,879 Member
    Try to cover it up best you can, blame someone else if possible.

    Heh....
  • wewon
    wewon Posts: 838 Member
    Forgive yourself, own your mistake and do better tomorrow.

    Ditto.

    Also, this is not easy. You will actually have to remind yourself to forgive yourself on several occasions.

    This will be easier, if you also take this perspective of other people's screw ups. Be quick to forgive those that take accountability and try to recover.
  • tmauck4472
    tmauck4472 Posts: 1,785 Member
    I vote for the own up to it and strive to be the person that fixes it. Then move on and remember lessons learned.
  • LoveMyBulldog
    LoveMyBulldog Posts: 1
    Just like Meloyelo2010 said ... square your shoulders, take your hits, learn from it, and then move on.
  • micahsnana377
    micahsnana377 Posts: 1
    well, with anything you forgive yourself first of all!!! then you pick yourself up, dust off the seat of your pants and continue on, such is life!!!! hang in there!!!!!!!!You can make it!!!!!!
  • crystalflame
    crystalflame Posts: 1,049 Member
    Have an honest conversation with the people involved, take responsibility for your mistakes, and develop a plan to fix it. Then remind yourself of all the good things you've done in your job that you're proud of, strive every day to reach that level, and try to forgive yourself for one mistake. If you're obsessing, give yourself something else to focus on - a to-do list, perfecting a presentation, etc. One day at a time!
  • CJ_Holmes
    CJ_Holmes Posts: 759 Member
    Take responsibility and be part of the solution to fix it.

    This, AND apologize once, and then stop. Women especially tend to keep apologizing over and over. Let others forget. Spend some time doing things that make you feel competent.

    Give yourself a time limit for obsessing- after this weekend, if you start thinking about the eff-up, consciously put it out of your mind. Pre-select some affirmations or good thougths to replace them, if needed. And be as nice and forgiving as you would to someone else in the same situation!

    Get some friends together for happy hour, the sole purpose being everyone telling tales of their worst screw-ups. I'm sure someone will top you!
  • awmejia
    awmejia Posts: 147 Member
    Put your chin up and keep on going that's all anyone can do.
  • dirtydmvkid
    dirtydmvkid Posts: 184
    What exactly did you mess up? Did you forget the cover on the TPS report or did you burn the office down?
  • hoskibn
    hoskibn Posts: 86
    We all make mistakes from time to time...Own up to it, Learn from it, move on.
  • Nysie5
    Nysie5 Posts: 215 Member
    we have a motto here at work "SEE IT, OWN IT, FIX IT"

    good luck
  • Nerdinista
    Nerdinista Posts: 69 Member
    They took her stapler...
  • Magenta15
    Magenta15 Posts: 850 Member
    Have an honest conversation with the people involved, take responsibility for your mistakes, and develop a plan to fix it. Then remind yourself of all the good things you've done in your job that you're proud of, strive every day to reach that level, and try to forgive yourself for one mistake. If you're obsessing, give yourself something else to focus on - a to-do list, perfecting a presentation, etc. One day at a time!

    ^^ this. accept responsibility and acknowledge you made a mistake. apologize (once) if necessary and then help find solutions to fix the error, or establish how you would prevent such an error in the future and how you've learned from it. :) been there done that! don't feel bad forever!
  • Jebbster007
    Jebbster007 Posts: 265 Member
    Try to cover it up best you can, blame someone else if possible.

    Dang it, Dani....you always beat me to the punch......ARGGGHHH!!!! I was gonna say that.....in a much more snarky way as well. <sigh> I gotta quit my job so I can waste......ummm.....I mean spend more time on MFP forums.
  • Il_DaniD_lI
    Il_DaniD_lI Posts: 1,593 Member
    Try to cover it up best you can, blame someone else if possible.

    Dang it, Dani....you always beat me to the punch......ARGGGHHH!!!! I was gonna say that.....in a much more snarky way as well. <sigh> I gotta quit my job so I can waste......ummm.....I mean spend more time on MFP forums.

    I'm too quick! :wink:
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    wait - you fell over?
  • dcglobalgirl
    dcglobalgirl Posts: 207 Member
    Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! You guys are the best. Of course I know instinctively that we all mess up and it will pass, but it's still good to hear it from other people.

    And, no, I didn't burn down the office. ;) Rather, I didn't check my facts and gave wrong info to my boss, who gave wrong info to the big, big boss, who gave that wrong info to his boss, who may have given that information to some pretty big bosses indeed.

    But as you all say, this will pass and I will survive and I know someday this won't be as painful.

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