How to Take Responsibility for Mistakes at Work

I Was Wrong. AI Helped Me See It. And I realized that my judgment wasn’t as sharp as I thought. I started working with a new audit client. Something felt off. They gave short answers. Provided weak documentation. And dodged some of my questions. My gut told me something wasn’t right. I was convinced they were hiding something. So, I did what many auditors do— I dug deeper, determined to find the problem. But here’s where I went wrong: I wasn’t testing a theory. I was looking for proof of what I already believed. That’s not good. But it happens. We’re human. So, I took a step back. I ran the scenario through AI. I asked it to challenge my thinking. To poke holes in my reasoning. To force me to consider what else could be true. And that’s when it hit me— I was chasing a problem that didn’t exist. There was no fraud. No deception. Just poor documentation and a nervous client who had been burned by auditors before. I had let bias cloud my judgment. And that’s a problem. So, I admitted it. I owned up to my mistake. And I had a real conversation with my client. That moment taught me lessons I won’t forget: 1. Admit mistakes early. It’s hard, but it builds trust, not weakness. 2. Use AI wisely. It’s not there to replace judgment— it’s there to challenge it. 3. Pause before acting. Rushing = blind spots. Reflection = better judgment. 4. Listen to others. Clients, colleagues, even AI. Different perspectives matter. 5. Apologize sincerely. A real apology doesn’t just fix relationships, it strengthens them. Mistakes will happen. But how you recover makes all the difference. That’s why I built Audit Leverage— to help auditors challenge assumptions, analyze root causes, and get it right before it’s too late. 💬 Ever had AI make you rethink something?👇

In late 2016, while at Microsoft, I wrote a piece of code that caused severe crashes across 8+ regions, reducing our Service Level Agreements (SLAs) significantly. Within 30 hours, our team had jumped into action and resolved the crisis. This is the story of one of my biggest career mistakes and what it taught me. It all started with a subtle error: a null pointer exception in a rarely used code path. I thought it wasn't urgent and even considered going on vacation. But as life would have it, another team made changes that increased the frequency of this problematic code path, leading to massive crashes in multiple regions and affecting our SLAs badly. I was in shock when I realized the magnitude of what had happened. My heart pounded, but I knew I couldn't freeze. I took ownership and immediately informed leadership. Initially, they thought I was joking, but soon realized the severity of the issue. I involved the Product Management team to communicate with impacted customers while I focused on finding a fix. Within 30-40 minutes, I had a solution. I tested it thoroughly, validated it in a test region, and gathered approvals for a hotfix. Within 30 hours, we rolled out the fix to all regions. This experience taught me: 1. High-Quality Code Is Non-Negotiable: Quality code and thorough testing are critical, especially at scale. 2. Ownership Earns Respect: Taking responsibility rather than deflecting blame is crucial in resolving issues. 3. Communication Is Key: Proactive communication with leadership and customers maintains trust. 4. Learn and Reflect: Reflecting on mistakes and learning from them is what makes us better. I survived one of my worst mistakes by owning, fixing, and growing. Mistakes happen, but it’s how we respond that defines us. What's your biggest mistake, and what did it teach you?

✅ Yourself: "Why owning mistakes is the path to growth + leadership" As a human (and a coach), I've experienced missteps, blunders, and embarrassing moments. How we respond to these inevitable mistakes often says more about our character than the mistakes themselves. Getting caught up in self-flagellation, making excuses, or trying to cover our tracks is easy. But owning our mistakes head-on is one of the most influential #leadership skills we can cultivate. Here are 5 proven ways to own your mistakes and use them as springboards for growth: 1.) Admit Fault Promptly and Sincerely: Rip the Band-Aid off quickly, take full responsibility, and don't make excuses. A simple, heartfelt "I made a mistake, and here's what I'm going to do to fix it" can go a long way. 2.) Examine the Root Causes: Dig deeper to understand what led to the misstep. Identifying the underlying causes will help prevent similar errors in the future. 3.) Outline a Constructive Plan of Action: Present a clear, proactive plan for addressing the issue and making amends. This shows that you are committed to fixing the problem. 4.) Seek Feedback and Input: Invite others to provide honest feedback on your proposed solution. This outside perspective can uncover blind spots. 5.) Follow Through with Discipline and Transparency: Stick to the plan, be accountable for your progress, and keep stakeholders informed. Consistency and transparency will rebuild trust and respect. KEY TAKEAWAY: The reality is that we'll all mess up at some point. However, how we respond can either erode or cement our credibility as leaders. By owning our mistakes head-on, we model the vulnerability, resilience, and commitment to continuous improvement that inspires others. Coaching works; let's work together. | Follow Joshua Miller #joshuamiller #executivecoaching #coachingtips #mindset #performance #leadership #upskill #careeradvice #getahead #success #character

The secret to better hiring and selling? Embracing our blunders. I recently screwed up. You know that pit in your stomach when you realize you made a mistake. That was me 🙋🏻♀️ While my intentions were good, I moved too quickly, took action, and immediately knew something was "off." So what did I do? ... I asked myself why it happened ... I wrote down 2 things I'd do differently next time to avoid the same mistake ... I didn't wait to get busted ... I ate a big 'ol piece of humble 🥧 and proactively owned it ... I reached out (with sweaty palms and a nervous stomach) ... I didn't make excuses and apologized for what I did ... I asked for a conversation ... I thought of solutions to come to the conversation with ... I checked my ego ... I didn't get defensive And... We moved on better for it with a solution that works for both of us. Sure, it would've been easier to ignore it, hoping it wouldn't be a big deal. However, this would have caused a crack in our foundation over time. It wasn't worth it to ignore. But most importantly, it wasn't the right thing to do. Accountability + Real conversation + Giving each other the benefit of the doubt ____________________________________ Progress If we want our teams to be accountable, we must show them how. But why are we so afraid of mistakes? 1. We fear negative consequences like losing face, damaging relationships, or facing disciplinary action. 2. We don't feel accountable. 3. We believe that admitting a mistake will not lead to a solution. Thinking, "What's the point anyway?" The next time you or someone else makes a mistake: ditch the ego, assumptions, blame, and shame. As leaders or aspiring leaders, we set the stage. Every action, decision, and word spoken encourages or discourages those around us. Encourage a culture where admitting mistakes is seen as a step toward improvement, not punishment. Workshop the lessons learned, why they happened, and the measures to avoid repeating them. Your world will be better off for it. We all make mistakes. It's what we do in those moments that shapes what happens next. Accountability isn’t about blame—it's about better outcomes. Avenue Talent Partners | High-precision executive search for startups #startups #leadership #BuildWithATP

I failed spectacularly - and it’s the best thing that could’ve happened to me. I poured my heart into a big project, but despite my best efforts, it failed. It felt frustrating, embarrassing, and even a bit defeating. But looking back, I realize it wasn’t the failure that defined me - it was how I responded: ✅ I owned the mistake: ↳ Blaming others wouldn’t fix anything. ↳ I took responsibility and asked myself, “What can I learn from this?” ✅ I pivoted fast: ↳ The project’s failure showed me what didn’t work - and that’s valuable data! ↳ I adjusted, re-strategized, and kept moving forward. ✅ I built resilience: ↳ Every failure is a chance to grow stronger. ↳ I learned to trust the process and focus on long-term growth, not short-term setbacks. ❌ Don’t dwell on failure: ↳ Focusing too much on “what went wrong” can keep you stuck. ↳ Use it as a springboard to your next win. Failure is a step toward success - as long as you keep going. How did you respond the last time you failed?

OK…you messed up at work. Lost a client, missed a deadline, hired the wrong person. It happens. You’re human. You don’t, however, want to end up as an unemployed human! And so – here are my best three pieces of advice about what you can, and should, do immediately to get yourself back in the winners circle:    1️⃣ Accept your share of responsibility, even if it hurts. The minute you start playing the blame game at work, you look small and defensive. That means that even if you aren’t the only author of the mistake — and you probably aren’t — you still have to openly, candidly, and humbly take responsibility for your part in it. Believe it or not, saying, “I contributed to the problem and I’m sorry,” gets you a lot more cred from your organization than trying to prove the always-suspect “Don’t look at me!” case. 2️⃣ Conduct an autopsy. I know a smart executive who didn’t get a promotion he’d been after for a year. He was mad, hurt, and embarrassed. Did he sulk? For a minute. But then, he marched into his boss’s office, shut the door, and asked, “Where did I go wrong? What can I learn?” Good move! Actively seeking feedback from others about how and why you screwed up demonstrates that you have guts and integrity. You want to grow – so that your error never happens again. 3️⃣ Rebrand yourself. After a mistake at work, you’ve got a bit of a Scarlet ‘L’ on your shoulder. There’s no better way to get rid of it than to get yourself a nice, quick W, proving that you’re still a valuable employee who knows how to bounce back.  Come up with an achievable victory that you’re sure you can nail. Then go for it. Look, everybody screws up sometimes, but one mistake isn’t the end of the game for you unless you let it be. There are three ways back to the winner’s circle. Grab them and run.

Somewhat counterintuitively, admitting our mistakes can lead to career growth. I often think of something my father told me when I got my first real job: "If you take the blame when you deserve it, people will give you responsibility." I’ve found that to be very true. Difficult, but true. I remember when I was senior advisor at the FCC. A team created an important report under my direction, and at a senior staff meeting, people severely criticized it. I considered staying silent. As the least senior person there, I didn't want to highlight my mistake. But I remembered my father's advice and spoke up: "I gave the team their directions. They did what I asked them to do. So let's talk about how to fix the report, so I can let them know what needs to get done.” I worried that this acknowledgement would hurt my reputation. But as my father said, it helped. It showed people I could admit my mistakes and take steps to fix them. “Taking the blame when you deserve it” doesn’t mean making blanket apologies or being willing to be a punching bag; it means owning up to our own mistakes. When you’re willing to take the blame when you deserve it, people will give you responsibility. Has acknowledging your mistakes at work worked for you as it it did for me? Share your stories in the comments. What lessons did you learn?