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- Wise Words -
oops... you messed up, now what?
by Gregg Phalen

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Everyone no matter what stage of their career is going to learn.  In this section current and former Early Stage Professionals set out some of the lessons they have learned.  Below, Gregg Phalen a veteran from the online space (he started at AOL in 1994 before most of us had even thought about "digital" as a career)  talks through how to deal with something we will all do many times over (unfortunately!)... make a mistake and then work through it.  

Ugh.


D'oh.  Ugh.  Where's my Mommy/Daddy?  What Should I Do?
Ok, here's how this goes: You have a job. You like it. You work pretty hard at it and, far as you can tell, are held in relatively high regard. And then it happens. You screw something up -- fairly badly, but...perhaps not SO badly that you can't attempt to downplay or try to hide it altogether. Maybe, mayyyyyybe if you're lucky...no one will even notice.

This WILL happen to you -- particularly if you have any sort of operational role. You will have thoughts of sweeping it under the rug and be generally inclined to avoid the uncomfortable spotlight of shame  -- or to try pointing it elsewhere. You shouldn't. Here's why: People who screw up and don't take accountability are poop-heads*.

There are certainly numerous other ways to achieve this unfortunate status in the workplace, but skirting accountability is well toward the top of the list. It's also among the easiest to avoid unless your ego is so massive that any exposed wrinkle in your aptitude will create a black hole that destroys the universe. All you’ve gotta do...is raise...your hand.
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Rise Above It​
Note that being a rookie is no excuse here. Your Early Stage Professional status should buy you some slack on making the mistake in the first place, but not owning up to it is more character flaw than novice oversight and will be recognized as such. Consider that rookie individual contributors who screw up and hide it evolve into managers who screw up and hide it and those are much more dangerous/despicable.The risk of being recognized as someone unwilling to take accountability is far worse than the reward of being so darn perfect.

​Sure, making a meaningful mistake at work sucks. But the "reward" for being fake-perfect in the workplace is actually some combination of being-in-the-wrong-job and working-for-a-boss-who-can't-handle/accept-that-you're-not-perfect. Neither of these are circumstances you want to persist for any meaningful length of time. Plus, it's like cheatin' at checkers -- there's no satisfaction in a job well done when it actually wasn't and you just got away with it. There's just the emptiness and eventual paranoia that comes with stashing your blunders under the floorboards.


Now let's contemplate the flip-side. Consider the satisfaction of thinking to yourself at any moment it becomes relevant that, whatever other grievous flaws you may have, you don’t shrink from accountability. Did you, for example, (and ask yourself if I seem clever enough to have made this up) melt your company's call-center that time by accidentally emailing the entire member base a message intended only for a small group of elite customers which strongly encouraged them to call customer support asap? Yeah you did. Well, y'know what? Say it with me now: “I’ve made a huge mistake.” And open wide. Because humble pie ain’t super-tasty, but it’s much better when you bake it yourself.

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Being Heroic.  Owning Up.  Making Your Mommy / Daddy Proud
As people in the office become aware of your screw-up, they will note the location of the bullet hole and think the following three things, most likely in this order:
  1. Holy Smoke, what an idiot*.
  2. Man, I am so glad that's not me.
  3. Ehhhh...pretty ballsy to get out in front of it like that.
And there you have it. You may be a screw-up, but you're a screw-up that stands behind your work even when it's bad -- ESPECIALLY when it's bad. You care enough about your company and the quality of your work to identify when it was NOT quality and -- particularly when it's going to impact your customers -- do so immediately, as unpleasant as that may be. You raise your hand, ego in tatters, tell whoever needs to know what happened, and get down to the business of fixing the mess you made. Bonus points for coming up with actionable plans for helping yourself and others avoid similar mistakes in the future.

Now go back and read that list of how people will react to your heroic admission of ineptitude, but now consider which one sticks. Yes, 1 and 2 hurt. But #3 makes a lasting impression. As long as you don't make blowing things up a habit, you get slack on #1 -- deep down everyone knows we're all just a bunch of idiots doing the best we can. And #2 people actually secretly appreciate. It's a genuinely nice feeling to NOT be the person who jacked things up so royally we almost had to call the cops -- and you created that for them. But #3 -- establishing yourself as someone who can be TRUSTED -- is ultimately much more important than being someone who never goofs.

Lesson: Everybody makes mistakes. Quality people own them. The bullet holes heal, and leave really neat scars.


​* Editors Note.  Changes were made to ensure the language was "Safe For Work".  Apologies to Gregg Phalen for removing the profanity. 
​
Like this section?  Why not send your own "Early Stage Professional:" advice and experience in? Just email it to: fergus@whattheferg.com

More Wise Words...

Achieve: Focus on Results
​
Achieve: Leading from the Start
Achieve: Small is BIG
Achieve: Take Action
Career Management: Annual Review. A "How To"
Career Management: Annual Review. As Career Plan
Career Management: Choosing a Mentor
Career Management: Careers Happen
Career Management: Career Journey
Career Management: Mentorship Explained
​
Career Management: Post Graduate Degrees
Career Management: Promotion Frustration 
Career Management: Moving up by moving out
Career Management: Selecting Your Company
Career Management: Understand Yourself
Finances: Retirement Saving (1)
Finances: Retirement Saving (2)
Hindsight: Balance the short- with the long-term
​Hindsight: Embrace learning and your manager
Hindsight: Focus at Work
Hindsight: Millennial Reflections
Hindsight: Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
​Hindsight: Take Advice Sparingly
Hindsight: Take a Career Mulligan
​
Hindsight: Transition from College
Hindsight: Winning Nicely
Hindsight: Work hard, network, be honest. Have fun too!
Managing Up: Manage Up to Move Up
Managing Up: Manager As Partner
Managing Up: New Manager
Managing Up: Questions for your manager
Managing Up: Secret Skills for Managing Up
​
People & Teamwork: Be A Giver
​
People & Teamwork: LinkedIn As Networking
People & Teamwork: Networking Hacks
People & Teamwork: Networking as a Relationship
People & Teamwork: Networking Simplified
People & Teamwork: Teamwork As Leadership
Speedbumps: Chutes & Ladders
​
Speedbumps: Laid Off? Take A Breath
Speedbumps: Layoffs. The Afterlife
Speedbumps: Owning Mistakes
Work Life: Work Culture. America vs. UK
Work Life: Ask Why
Work Life: Be Yourself. Be Genuine
​
Work Life: Browned Out?
Work Life: Business Travel Guide
Work Life: Calendar Management
Work Life: Difficult Situations
Work Life: Focus on Fiyah!
​Work Life: Ghosting
​
Work Life: Help the Early Stage Professionals
Work Life: International Remote Working
Work Life: Pre-Vacation Checklist
Work Life: Smartphones & The Office
​Work Life: Start-Up Glamor
Work Life: Stress Management
Work Life: Take a Walk
​
Work Life: They Quit
Work Life: Unlimited Vacation
Work Life: Welcome the Newbies
Work Life: "Work" from Home

Crushing It @ Work

What Time Should I Start? 
What If I am Running Late? 
Taking Vacation
Sick Days 
Working Outside Office Hours
​
How to prepare for One/Ones
Making Meetings on Time 
Business Presentations 
Social Media, Personal Email and Hanging Out on the Web
Give it Six to Nine Months to Feel @Home
Be Your-professional-self
Staying Positive

Job Search Must Do's

Resume
The Application Letter 
​
The Free Conundrum: Should You Take an Unpaid Internship?
Informational Interviews 
Taking a Shortcut: Using Your Network 
Dealing with a Low GPA
​Responding to Recruiters
The Job Interview
Interview Questions
Questions You Should Ask
Simulations 
Interviews with Other Applicants
Dealing with References
Negotiating Your Salary
How to Resign (if you already have a job)
​
The First Week
You Don't Get the Job: Getting Feedback
​Keeping Motivated Through the Search

USA Today Columns by Fergus Mellon

How to get started on LinkedIn: Do this, not that
Warning: Avoid smartphone shame at work.  Keep them out of sight
To succeed, be a Giver in the workplace, not a Taker
4 ghoulish personality pitfalls to steer clear of at the office
​
How to coach today's not so entitled Millennials as they join the rat race

Crushing IT

Money

Library

WISE WORDS

Bureaucracy

Copyright © 2016 - 2020
  • Home
  • Getting a job
    • Must Do's - Resume
    • Must Do's - Application Letter
    • Must Do's - Internships
    • Groundwork - Informational Interviews
    • Groundwork - Your Network
    • Groundwork - GPA Issues
    • Groundwork - Recruiters
    • Dealing with Rejection - Feedback
    • Dealing with Rejection - Keeping Motivated
    • Closing the Deal - The Interview
    • Closing the Deal - Interview Q's
    • Closing the Deal - Your Questions
    • Closing the Deal - Simulations
    • Closing the Deal - Group Interviews
    • Closing the Deal - References
    • Signing On - Salary Negotiation
    • Signing On - How to Resign
    • Signing On - First Week
  • Crushing It
    • The Hours - What Time Should I Start
    • The Hours - What If I Am Running Late?
    • The Hours - Taking Vacation
    • The Hours - Sick Days
    • The Hours - Working Outside Office Hours
    • Professional Skills - One/Ones
    • Professional Skills- Making Meetings on Time
    • Professional Skills - Business Presentations
    • Professional Skills - Social Media, Personal Email
    • A Level Head - Feeling @ Home
    • A Level Head - Be YourProfessionalSelf
    • A Level Head- Staying Positive
  • Wise Words
    • Achieve - Focus on the Results
    • Achieve - Leading from the Start
    • Achieve - Showcase Your Work
    • Achieve - Small is BIG
    • Achieve - Take Action
    • Achieve - Your New Job. A Plan
    • Career Management - Annual Review
    • Career Management - Annual Review Feedback Meeting
    • Career Management - Annual Review: How to Guide
    • Career Management - Career Contentment
    • Career Management - Careers Happen
    • Career Management - Career Journey
    • Career Management - Choosing a Mentor
    • Career Management - Discomfort Is Good
    • Career Management - Freelancing and Employment Gaps
    • Career Management - Mentally Healthy Choices
    • Career Management - Mentorship Explained
    • Career Management - Post Graduate Degrees
    • Career Management - Promotion Frustration
    • Career Management - Promotions. Move out to move up
    • Career Management - Selecting Your Company
    • Career Management - Understand Yourself
    • Finances - Preparing for a Downturn
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (1)
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (2)
    • Hindsight - Balance the Short- with Long -term
    • Hindsight - Embrace Learning & Your Manager
    • Hindsight - Focus at Work
    • Hindsight - Millennial Reflections
    • Hindsight - Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
    • Hindsight - Take a Career Mulligan
    • Hindsight - Take Advice Sparingly
    • Hindsight - Transition from College
    • Hindsight - Winning Nicely
    • Hindsight - Work Hard. Be Honest. Have Fun
    • Managing Up - Manager as Partner
    • Managing Up - Manage Up to Move Up
    • Managing Up - Mastering Your Manager
    • Managing Up - New Manager
    • Managing Up - Questions For Your Manager
    • Managing Up - Secret Skills of Managing Up
    • Managing Up - Yes Power
    • People & Teamwork - Be a Giver
    • People & Teamwork - Collaboration is Power
    • People & Teamwork - First Time Manager
    • People & Teamwork - LinkedIn as Networking
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Hacks
    • People & Teamwork - Networking as Relationship
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Simplified
    • People & Teamwork - Reputations Travel
    • People & Teamwork - Teamwork as Leadership
    • Sliding Doors - Decision Paths
    • Sliding Doors - Success Requires Luck
    • Speed Bumps - Chutes & Ladders
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs & Survivors Guilt
    • Speed Bumps - Laid Off? Take a Breath
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs. The After Life
    • Speed Bumps - Owning Mistakes
    • Work Life - American Work Culture
    • Work Life - Ask Why
    • Work Life - Be Yourself. Be Genuine
    • Work Life - Browned Out?
    • Work Life - Business Travel Guide
    • Work Life - Calendar Management
    • Work Life - Change is Certain
    • Work Life - Difficult Situations
    • Worklife - Focus on Fiyah
    • Work Life - Ghosting
    • Work Life - Help the Early Stage Professionals
    • Work Life- International Remote Working
    • Work Life - In the Zoom
    • Work Life - Mom Skills
    • Work Life - Office As A Stage
    • Work Life - Office Ghouls
    • Work Life - Pre Vacation Checklist
    • Work Life - Returning to Work
    • Work Life - Smartphones & The Office
    • Work Life - Speak Up
    • Work Life - Stage Fright
    • Work Life - Startup Glamour
    • Work Life - Stress Management
    • Work Life - Take A Walk
    • Work Life - Tasks We Hate
    • Work Life - They Quit
    • Work Life - Unlimited Vacation
    • Worklife - Vacation Overview
    • Work Life - Welcome the Newbies
    • Work Life - "Work" From Home
  • Money
    • Money - The Basics
    • Money - Saving for Retirement
    • Money - Retirement Saving
  • Library
    • Book Reviews
    • Webinar Hub
    • USA Today Columns
    • Buy Early Stage Professional
    • Bureaucracy
  • Help Center
    • Annual Reviews
    • Career Speed Bumps
    • Managing Up
    • Promotions & Career Planning
    • Stress Management