Comments on: Screwing Up

By: Michele

Michele — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:41:00 +0000

This is great advice, Lori. It's great that you advised us to admit to a mistake we own, but warned us not to go so far we're taken advantage of. That could be easy to do sometimes. :-)

Smiles,
Michele

By: amy

amy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:04:00 +0000

I couldn’t agree with you more, Lori. One of the things I hated most about Cubicle Life was the backstabbing and blaming that went on. It’s still lurking here in the Freelance Homeland, but it’s not always lurking in the air.

If it’s my bad, I might feel really stupid, but I’m the first to admit it was my mistake. When it’s someone else’s mistake, unless I’m asked to compensate for it, I like not having to hear about it. Unlike in the cubicle cages, where it became a five day drama only resolved by ditching it for the next crisis. 🙂

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:59:00 +0000

I agree, Lillie. It’s not only professional, it’s the grownup thing to do. If you say, “I did it. I’m sorry. I’ll fix it if I can”, you’re more likely to leave a favorable impression than if you use tons of excuses or worse, write the client off as a hack.

By: Lillie Ammann

Lillie Ammann — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:57:00 +0000

Good advice, Lori. Sometimes the way you handle a mistake can not only keep the client’s business but actually make them more loyal and more apt to refer others. Everyone is so used to people NOT taking responsibility for their mistkes that when we do, most clients appreciate and respect it.