Four Steps to Learn From Your Mistakes

Welcome to Mind Tools' Video Learning Series from Emerald Works.

We're all human, and we all get things wrong from time to time. But simply saying sorry and carrying on as before – without taking the time to really acknowledge what went wrong and why – can result in the same mistakes being made time and again.

With the right approach, the errors we make can teach us valuable lessons, so let's take a look at four things you can do to learn from your mistakes.

First, own it. It takes courage to put your hands up and say, "I was wrong," but it's the only way to learn and move on from what's happened. Tell the people who need to know, apologize, and explain how you'll make things right.

Then, reframe the error. See it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Perhaps it will help you to improve your skill set.

Next, analyze your mistake. Ask yourself what you were trying to do and what went wrong. Also consider when it happened and why. Your answers should help you to pinpoint what needs to change in order to avoid making the same mistake again.

Now put what you've learned into practice by taking action. Do you need to improve your skills or those of your team? Do you require additional training or support? Or do you need to amend a procedure or process to ensure that the error doesn't happen again?

To find out more about how to learn and move on from your mistakes, see the article that accompanies this video.