I’m a copywriter who specializes in marketing communications pieces for high tech companies. One of my mandates is to stay reasonably up to date on all kinds of technology—at least in broad brushstrokes. One of the ways I do it, other than asking a lot of questions, is to subscribe to TechRepublic. What a good idea that has turned out to be.
The folks who contribute to TechRepublic are great writers and often have wise (and fun) things to say about non-technology topics. This past summer, the witty Alan Norton made some interesting observations about making mistakes.
First, his 10 immutable laws of mistakes. Do read the entire post. His flowchart is great, and the quotes he’s chose to accompany each law are right on.
- Everyone makes mistakes
- Not all mistakes are bad mistakes
- Mistakes not seen by others are not mistakes
- Ignorance does not excuse your mistake
- Mistakes occur at the very worst time
- Mistakes beget mistakes
- Mistakes made with computers propagate faster and cause more damage
- Mistakes of inaction are mistakes nonetheless
- Failing to own up to your mistakes is a mistake
- Failing to learn from your mistakes is a mistake
This list reads on the dire side, but it’s actually pretty funny. If you, like so many of us, quiver over the prospect of making a mistake or being excoriated for it, you can take some comfort here.
I’ve got a couple of favorites on this list. In my view, #3 is a real winner. If others don’t see your mistake and you fix it fast enough, it’s not a mistake. How cool is that? The corollary is that you will cause yourself unnecessary damage if you confess to mistakes of this class. Confession is distinctly different from passing on the lessons you’ve learned. That makes you look wise and seasoned.
My second choice is #9, because it’s practical and ethical. As Norton says, “If you can’t quickly fix your mistake, hiding it is almost always a bad idea.” If you admit what you’ve done, then you can get help from others more experience than you. If you blame a colleague or she takes the fall, shame on vous.
What I took away from this post is that I should press ahead. Do the due diligence, yes. Analyze as best I can, yes, but keep on moving. And when the colleague who went to HBS gets a touch snarky about my failings, I’ll bear in mind that we’re in the same boat.
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