System Failure or One-Time Error?
Sometimes things at work don’t go as planned, but the important question to ask is whether it’s a “system failure” or a one-off error.
Recently, a client of mine rushed to prep a deck for a meeting, only to realize they hadn’t done enough preparation because they didn’t know who was attending.
This prompted my question to her: Is this a failure of not having the right system in place so you don’t know what type of meetings you have coming up? Or was it just a one-time mishap?
Upon reflection, we realized the system only needed a small upgrade and didn’t need to be demolished. The solution was simple—review the calendar several days ahead instead of just one.
On the flip side, sometimes a mistake is just human error. For instance, I was traveling, and some emails were stuck in my outbox. While frustrating, it wasn’t a system failure but a rare oversight.
So, next time something goes wrong, don’t jump to blame yourself.
First, ask yourself if there needs to be a system in place that currently isn’t there that would have helped protect against the mistake. Or is that only a one-time error?
Bottom line: Don’t beat yourself up—just improve and keep going.
Read more: Plan Your Week for Success
