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We have all made mistakes. Some of the hardest lessons to learn in business are through mistakes that could have been avoided with just a little more effort and care. Perhaps you simply misspelled a word on a client’s marketing brochure, or maybe you botched an entire presentation.
While you strive to be as thorough and perfect as possible, you are bound to make mistakes. It’s okay to make mistakes. You are only human, and hopefully, your clients understand that perfection is not possible.
1) Own Up To Your Mistakes
The first thing to remember is that transparency is key. If you make a mistake, own up to it. Ensure your client is fully aware of the mistake that was made, and acknowledge your error. Apologize and then move on; do not continue to apologize over and over again. It’s easy to get caught in the mistake and continue to bring it up, but your client does not want to be constantly reminded of your error.
If you move on, so will your client.
Before you make your apology, consider whether you have an action plan in place. The best way to ease a client’s frustration is to tell them how you are going to fix your mistake. When you present the mistake paired with your plan, your client will have continued faith in your services.
2) Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
The bottom line is, talk is cheap! You have to follow through with your recovery action plan. Don’t present an action plan to your client that is not achievable—temporarily easing your client’s frustration is not ideal. If you want to truly restore their faith, present your plan and follow through to perfection.
Remember to breathe. Mistakes are inevitable, but with a carefully chosen action plan and transparency with your clients, you can learn and move on from your mistakes with happy clients.
Have you made a big mistake at work that you successfully overcame? Share how you turned it around in the comments below!
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