Every job has difficult days. Learning how to respond when things don't go to plan can help you become more confident and resilient at work.
You might make a mistake, receive difficult feedback, struggle with a task, have a problem getting to work or feel overwhelmed by something that's happening.
Having a challenge doesn't mean you're doing badly. What matters is how you respond to it. Instead of ignoring a problem or assuming the worst, take a step back, work out what's happening and think about what could help.
When Something Goes Wrong
Pause before you react: When you're stressed or frustrated, it's easy to react quickly. Give yourself a moment to think before sending a message, walking away or making a decision you might regret.
Work out what the problem actually is: Try to separate the problem from how it's making you feel. Instead of "I'm terrible at this job", the actual problem might be "I'm struggling with this particular task and need someone to show me again."
Focus on what you can control: You won't be able to change everything, but there is usually something you can do next. Ask yourself: “What can I do about this today?”
Think about possible solutions: There may be more than one way forward. Could you ask for clarification, practise a task, change your routine, talk to your manager or get some additional support?
Learn from mistakes: Everyone makes mistakes at work. If you make one, be honest about it, help put it right where you can and think about what you'll do differently next time.
Ask for help early: You don't have to prove that you can handle everything alone. If something keeps happening, is getting worse or you don't know how to resolve it, talk to someone rather than waiting until it becomes a bigger problem.
Know when something is more serious there are some situations shouldn't simply be treated as challenges you need to become more resilient to. Bullying, harassment, discrimination, unsafe working practices or behaviour that makes you feel unsafe should be raised with an appropriate person.
Top Tips on how to Manage Mistakes
Don't turn one bad day into a bad job: One difficult shift, mistake or disagreement doesn't necessarily mean the job isn't working out.
Get the facts before assuming the worst: If you're unsure what someone meant or what is expected of you, ask.
Break big problems down: Focus on the next step rather than trying to solve everything at once.
Be open to feedback: Feedback can sometimes be difficult to hear, but try to separate useful information from the initial emotion you might feel.
Recognise what you've overcome before: Think about situations you've found difficult in the past and what helped you through them.
Activity
Something's gone wrong. Try STOP.
S – Step back
Don't react immediately. Give yourself a moment.
T – Think
What's actually happened? What's the problem?
O – Options
What could you do? Who could help?
P – Pick your next step
Choose something practical you can do next.
Give it a try: You've made a mistake with a task and you're worried your manager is going to be annoyed.
Step back: Rather than hiding it or panicking, take a moment.
Think: What exactly went wrong? Can it be corrected? Does someone need to know?
Options: You could:
try to hide the mistake;
blame somebody else;
tell your manager what has happened and ask how to fix it;
ask an experienced colleague for advice.
Pick your next step: The most constructive option would usually be to be honest about what happened and focus on putting it right.
Resilience isn't about putting up with everything. It's about dealing with setbacks, learning from what happens and knowing when to ask for help. Some problems you can solve yourself. Others are easier to deal with when you involve the right person.