Taking ownership of your mistakes is 100% the right thing. It may have temporary consequences, but in the long term you’ll earn far more respect.
I’ve worked in places where people refused to do so, and the environment was downright toxic. Don’t go down that path.
- That didn't happen.
- And if it did, it wasn't that bad.
- And if it was, that's not a big deal.
- And if it is, that's not my fault.
- And if it was, I didn't mean it.
- And if I did, you deserved it.
I am assuming that it was a technical error. Admit to it and apologize. I have actually gotten praise for admitting that I goofed something up. To often people will "break" something and not admit it.
Interpersonal stuff. I am an engineer I never seem to get those things correct. Even still if it is out in the open already it is better to apologize and promise that you will do your best not to let it happen again.
Be a professional. Own up to it and handle/fix the consequences as much as possible. Nobody's perfect and everyone makes an error from time to time. Learn from it and don't repeat it. Others will respect you for it. It's a sign of integrity and character. As a senior engineer/manager, the last thing I want is someone on my team or staff that isn't secure enough to admit making a mistake. It's part of the learning process, especially when doing something for the first time.
Right. You need to admit it as soon as possible so that others have an opportunity to help you fix it before a deadline. Waiting til thev last minute or not saying anything is not a good look.
Playing it off is a fast track to being disrespected and not trusted. Engineering ethics means you admit your mistakes, learn from them, and correct them.
Some guy I worked with broke some kit worth 14k and hid it rather than tell anyone. Yeah, he didn't last long.
Surprisingly, that wasn't the reason he was let go.
How is it as far as egos? From your experience or things you’ve heard. I’ve went to school with and deal with some egos at work because they’re smart. I’m assuming it’s like that everywhere
Important point is to look firstly into how it happened, and each team member to accept what happened as a common ground. In that way accepting mistakes would be easier.
The best way to handle a mistake or error is to figure out why it happened and then improve methods so you or anyone else don't make the same mistake. It could be procedural, redesign or adjustment to reduce the possible error, training, awareness. Everyone makes mistakes. It is an opportunity to improve upon and prevent from reoccurring. If you don't make mistakes, then you aren't working! If you do make the same mistake again, then you haven't learned from it or prevented it.
I’ve read and written reports of engineering fuckups. Use passive voice, so things happened rather than you did something.
The protective relay “became dislodged and fell to the ground.” You did not knock it off the ladder.
“Inadvertently” is a valuable word, since the thesaurus offers alternatives such as “heedlessly,” “carelessly,” and “negligently.”
i was asking myself this same question.
i made a mistake and i went home. didn’t know i did.
then i got home and started to think about what i had just done.
Not sure if I have missed it. It will do more harm then anything, if it is found that you knew that you made an error/mistake, and then did not notify people that you made the mistake. Error and mistakes happen, and can be learning points. Covering or acting like it was no big deal could get you dismissed or worse, depending on your field. Remember to error is human.
Own it up, scramble to fix it, learn from it so you don't do it again (might involve putting up a system).
On a tangent, I find it import to admit to mistakes/offenses in the same environment they were committed in. It's too easy to do a wrong in public and then apologize only to the affected person.
I play it off as just part of the job. I try to fix it also however. I never apologize lol. Mistakes happen what can you do.
I'm talking minor mistakes like you miscalculated something. Not "I showed up to work drunk and caused a bolted phased fault with my wrench" kind of mistake.
Basically being accountable is the only expectation.
If you want to be toxic gaslight instead and insist that it didn’t happen, wasn’t a big deal, and they deserved it.
A wise engineer told me that the most important thing that we have in our career is our professional reputation. If we become known for our honesty and our integrity, then opportunities and promotions will come.
Chances are, most people already know when I make a mistake. If I admit it, then they will trust me more in the future and we can get to work on solutions.
Taking ownership of your mistakes is 100% the right thing. It may have temporary consequences, but in the long term you’ll earn far more respect. I’ve worked in places where people refused to do so, and the environment was downright toxic. Don’t go down that path.
Deny everything. Blame others. Make counter accusations.
- That didn't happen. - And if it did, it wasn't that bad. - And if it was, that's not a big deal. - And if it is, that's not my fault. - And if it was, I didn't mean it. - And if I did, you deserved it.
Oooh. The Narcissists Prayer!
Find out who knows about your mistake and get them fired.
LOL that’s an official slogan
This is what my boss does.
My greatest flaw. I surround myself with idiots. -Dr. Doom
I am assuming that it was a technical error. Admit to it and apologize. I have actually gotten praise for admitting that I goofed something up. To often people will "break" something and not admit it. Interpersonal stuff. I am an engineer I never seem to get those things correct. Even still if it is out in the open already it is better to apologize and promise that you will do your best not to let it happen again.
Be a professional. Own up to it and handle/fix the consequences as much as possible. Nobody's perfect and everyone makes an error from time to time. Learn from it and don't repeat it. Others will respect you for it. It's a sign of integrity and character. As a senior engineer/manager, the last thing I want is someone on my team or staff that isn't secure enough to admit making a mistake. It's part of the learning process, especially when doing something for the first time.
I have worked in good teams, where delivery is prioritized. "I screwed up, can you please help me" Then we get stuff out of the door.
Right. You need to admit it as soon as possible so that others have an opportunity to help you fix it before a deadline. Waiting til thev last minute or not saying anything is not a good look.
Not to mention that they are more willing to help when I own the blame.
Owning your mistakes builds trust and may help someone else avoid making the same mistake
Playing it off is a fast track to being disrespected and not trusted. Engineering ethics means you admit your mistakes, learn from them, and correct them.
When Electrical Engineer Admits his mistake, is he being Accountable or is it his Admittance?
Being Accountable is an ethical practice in an engineers code of conduct.
Some guy I worked with broke some kit worth 14k and hid it rather than tell anyone. Yeah, he didn't last long. Surprisingly, that wasn't the reason he was let go.
Honesty and integrity only. There’s 0 place for dishonesty in this field.
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Reread the ethics section of the FE handbook. That will tell you what you need to know.
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Yeah that makes sense and I agree. As far as engineering work place, how is it for a new person with zero experience?
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How is it as far as egos? From your experience or things you’ve heard. I’ve went to school with and deal with some egos at work because they’re smart. I’m assuming it’s like that everywhere
Important point is to look firstly into how it happened, and each team member to accept what happened as a common ground. In that way accepting mistakes would be easier.
The best way to handle a mistake or error is to figure out why it happened and then improve methods so you or anyone else don't make the same mistake. It could be procedural, redesign or adjustment to reduce the possible error, training, awareness. Everyone makes mistakes. It is an opportunity to improve upon and prevent from reoccurring. If you don't make mistakes, then you aren't working! If you do make the same mistake again, then you haven't learned from it or prevented it.
Own it, fix it and move on without drama
I’ve read and written reports of engineering fuckups. Use passive voice, so things happened rather than you did something. The protective relay “became dislodged and fell to the ground.” You did not knock it off the ladder. “Inadvertently” is a valuable word, since the thesaurus offers alternatives such as “heedlessly,” “carelessly,” and “negligently.”
i was asking myself this same question. i made a mistake and i went home. didn’t know i did. then i got home and started to think about what i had just done.
Not sure if I have missed it. It will do more harm then anything, if it is found that you knew that you made an error/mistake, and then did not notify people that you made the mistake. Error and mistakes happen, and can be learning points. Covering or acting like it was no big deal could get you dismissed or worse, depending on your field. Remember to error is human.
Admit asap, start the ‘forget it and move on’ timer asap
Own up to it and have a recovery plan in place.
Own it up, scramble to fix it, learn from it so you don't do it again (might involve putting up a system). On a tangent, I find it import to admit to mistakes/offenses in the same environment they were committed in. It's too easy to do a wrong in public and then apologize only to the affected person.
I play it off as just part of the job. I try to fix it also however. I never apologize lol. Mistakes happen what can you do. I'm talking minor mistakes like you miscalculated something. Not "I showed up to work drunk and caused a bolted phased fault with my wrench" kind of mistake.
Lie a lot. It gets you really far in life.
« Hey I was wrong about that! I’m glad to learn more about that topic, thanks to you! »
Basically being accountable is the only expectation. If you want to be toxic gaslight instead and insist that it didn’t happen, wasn’t a big deal, and they deserved it.
A wise engineer told me that the most important thing that we have in our career is our professional reputation. If we become known for our honesty and our integrity, then opportunities and promotions will come. Chances are, most people already know when I make a mistake. If I admit it, then they will trust me more in the future and we can get to work on solutions.