The gift of mistakes. Getting it wrong helps us get it right.
- The Office Elf
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
In every business, and in our everyday life, mistakes are going to happen.
The wrong link sent.
The email you forgot to CC.
The file you accidentally renamed “Final_FINAL_2.”
We all know the feeling: that quick flush of frustration, embarrassment, or worry.
But what if we stopped treating mistakes as failures… and started seeing them as teachers?
Make it safe to try
Perfectionism might look polished on the surface, but it’s one of the biggest barriers to growth.
When people feel scared to make a mistake, they also stop:
Asking questions
Trying new tools or approaches
Offering fresh ideas
The result? A quiet, careful workplace where progress slows and creativity fades.
Instead, imagine a culture where it’s safe to say:
“That didn’t go how I planned… but here’s what I learned.”
That’s where real improvement begins.
Learning from mistakes
Mistakes highlight the places where systems can get smoother and communication clearer. Every “oops” is a data showing us what needs attention.
As a Virtual Assistant, I’ve found that documenting little errors helps prevent big ones later.
A simple note like, “Next time, double-check the client folder naming convention” can turn a stumble into a solid process.
The key is not to avoid mistakes entirely, but to learn efficiently from the ones that happen.
Ask questions, early and often
Confidence doesn’t mean having all the answers, it means feeling safe enough to ask.
Normalising questions builds trust. It tells your team, your clients, or yourself:
“Curiosity is welcome here.”
And more often than not, the “silly” question turns out to be the one that prevents confusion down the line.
Normalise the wobbles
No one gets everything right the first time, not even the most experienced professionals.
The early drafts, awkward emails, and trial runs are all part of the work.
So instead of hiding them, normalise them.
Talk about what didn’t go to plan.
Share lessons learned.
Laugh about the human moments.
Mistakes are proof that you’re doing something, that you’re learning, testing, improving.
The best workplaces aren’t built on perfection; they’re built on trust, communication, and compassion.
So the next time something doesn’t go quite right, take a breath.
You’re not failing: you’re growing.
After all, progress is just a series of well-managed mistakes.
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