Be Better Guys

I recently did something at work that I’ve never done before in 20 years of working – I did something abjectly wrong.  Ok it wasn’t nearly as wrong as the proportions to which it got blown up to be, but I am man enough to admit it was wrong.  It almost led to what could have been my possible dismissal. No…this was not loosey-goosey can’t-I-just-smile-this-one-away time. This was serious and what I learned in the process can help you…so listen up. Even if you haven’t stepped in the bucket yet, you may one day. So here are Be Better Guys’ Tips for Handling a Screw Up at Work.

I recently did something at work that I’ve never done before in 20 years of working – I did something abjectly wrong. Ok it wasn’t nearly as wrong as the proportions to which it got blown up to be, but I’m man enough to admit it was wrong.  It almost led to what could have been my possible dismissal. No…this was not loosey-goosey can’t-I-just-smile-this-one-away time. This was serious and what I learned in the process can help you…so listen up.  Even if you haven’t stepped in the bucket yet, you may one day. So here are Be Better Guys’ Tips for Handling a Screw Up at Work.
Most people make little goof-ups at work that cause their boss to say things like “What were you thinking?” or “Do us all a favor and ask me the right way to do things instead of noodling through it yourself!" Some people make really major screw ups like defrauding their company or a customer or gambling or making big-time sexual overtures to the hottie in legal or looking at porn (for more than 5 minutes a day) at the office.  Those are grounds for dismissal; no two ways about it.

Me – I was somewhere in that grey area where it could be interpreted as a corporate violation or it could just be something noted and after a wrist-slap…be mostly forgotten.  I went around a person at work to get something done for a customer.  It was not illegal.   But it could have been interpreted as such had I not jumped on the grenade right away when the fire started to intensify.  When that happens here’s what you should do:

Most Importantly,  Man Up. If you were the one who orchestrated the problem then you have to say that it was your idea.  Falling on your sword sometimes kills ya but more often than not higher-ups appreciate you coming clean from the start so the issue can get resolved.

Apologize Profusely But Don’t Get Gooey About It.  A good way to admit to a major mistake is to say something like this:  “This is what I did and I realize that it was improper and I do apologize for it.  It was a mistake that I won’t do again.”  A way to NOT admit it is this way:  “This is what I did and I’m so sorry about what I did that I just feel awful! I really apologize and I’m really sorry. I know it was a mistake and I’m sorry. What can I do to make it up to you?  ‘Cause I’m sorry.  You caught that I’m sorry right?”  No.  That example is simpering and unprofessional.  Be direct and apologize but don’t overdo it because unlike Sean Penn when HE overdoes things there’s no golden statuette or big film contract in it for you.

Go To Your Boss, pronto!  The moment you see the flames growing beyond your control, go to your boss and explain what happened and why. Get your boss on your side and not underneath you preparing to throw you overboard. Remember – if you have a problem, then the leadership has a problem. They don’t want an issue any more than you do so work do squash things immediately.

Go The Person To Whom You Committed The Offense and Apologize directly. I can’t say it any other way than that. You need to make sure the person you rattled doesn’t go on a warpath after you. That was the first thing I did. The person I went around to get the thing done? Went to her first and said “Hey I’m sorry. It was wrong and we have a great working relationship and I know this could jeopardize that but I want you to know that I do feel very bad about it and I want to start fresh.” Sounds like dating or being married doesn’t it? That’s ‘cause there ain’t much difference. Except at work you get paid and being married means you pay.

There Will Be A Moment of Reckoning. I can guarantee it. If you did something pretty wrong the powers-that-be will assemble to hold court with you as the defendant. So to make sure the outcome goes your way you need to get your story straight. Do not lie and do not throw others under the bus to protect yourself. That usually makes it worse.  Instead often admitting wrongdoing and exhibiting remorse will keep things from getting hotter. Now it depends on what you did of course. But in my experience explaining the situation and explaining the intent and doing it with sincerity worked.

…and Remain Calm. Spazzing about or telling everyone you know about what you did and how now you’re getting shot at won’t bring things to resolution any faster. If you need to talk it out with someone and there’s no-one else to talk to, then go outside for a walk and bang it around in your own head ‘till you settle down. The more people know about what you did the more opportunity for rumor to bite you in the ass just when you thought things were on the simmer-down.

Let’s hope you never make a big mistake at work. But most people usually do at some point whether they willfully knew it was wrong or were just stupid and ig’nant. It’s the severity of the screw up that determines if you stay or go and if you stay what your future ability for promotion might hold. See…work is survival of the fittest and those who shoot their own feet off become less of a threat than the guys and women who live by an upright code. I learned my lesson and dodged a SCUD. Be smart and don’t take a chance that could have you kickin’ bricks sooner than you ever intended.