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It happens to all of us at one time or another: we make a mistake. Sometimes it's a small goof, occasionally, a huge blunder. What do you do when you make mistake, commit a faux pas or are guilty of a gaffe?

Below are some guidelines on handling mistakes from someone who has made plenty of them.

1. Always Admit Your Mistake: No matter how small or gross, big or stupid, the best thing to do is to admit your mistake right up front. Things generally start getting better once you've owned up to your mistake. Also, it may prevent a small mistake from becoming a major disaster.

2. Don't Make Excuses: If it's your fault, take responsibility from the outset. When you try to divert blame or try to explain away your mistake it only makes you look bad. Don't worry about the reasons you made the mistake, just get going on fixing the problem.

3. Don't Panic: Practice being cool and calm in these situations. Let others know what happened and enlist their aid in correcting the mistake or solving the problem.

4. Search For Solutions Fast: Don't wallow in self-pity or anguish over what has happened. This behavior is not only useless but it may indicate to others that you don't work well under the pressure of a challenge.

5. Gain Experience: We all make mistakes; the idea is to learn from them. Once you've rectified the mistake, reflect on what you've learned, what you would do different and how you can apply your new knowledge to the job and to your life.

Mistakes happen every day. The successful person makes them, learns from them and moves on. Practice the above tips and add your own and soon you'll be an expert at handling your mistakes.

© Copyright 2004, David LaManna. All Rights Reserved.