Written by: Vickie Sullivan | April 18, 2024
How to Navigate Mistakes in a No-Error World
You operate in a world where people expect you to be correct 100 percent of the time. But you’re only human, and you do make mistakes. So, what do you do when your initial assessment of a situation is wrong?
A recent presentation on disinformation sheds some interesting light. The context: Journalists get bashed because they were not right the first time. The opposition took advantage of the mistake by positioning it as proof that the reporters were “wrong all the time.” It’s a great example of how critics will take advantage of your mistakes.
How to Minimize Fallout from Your Mistakes
You can nip this accusation in the bud by reframing the context around your role. Here are two interesting approaches that make mistakes appear small and normal:
• Being right vs. figuring it out: The speaker made a great point about journalists. Their job isn’t about being right all the time; it’s about reporting what just happened. In that context, it’s OK to change the narrative when you receive new information. To apply this tactic, ask yourself: Do I present myself as knowing all the answers or as someone who can figure out big challenges? The latter creates more benefit of the doubt.
• Analysis without an agenda: In this polarized time, thought leaders who appear above the fray get a lot of grace when they are wrong the first time. Think about how to shift the focus from being right to providing objective assessments that uncover the right answers. One way to do that is to soften your brand voice from strident to curious.
Many of us take pride in giving accurate advice, which is fair. But mistakes still happen. Crafting a message context that anticipates potential mistakes can help prevent your critics from portraying you in a negative light.
Listen: How to Respond When Someone Points Out You Made a Mistake
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