How do you pick up after a huge mistake?

2015-07-20T23:23:22-04:00

I recently experienced a very public failure that was experienced by basically the entire battalion. I feel like I may have lost a lot of rapport with some people that I had been building for the past month. I've been at this new unit for a month and I was given a brief to do on very short notice, but I failed to perform. A warrant officer came to my rescue, but I still feel a great sense of embarrassment. What are some ways I can make a comeback? I have already a lot of discussions with people at various levels on how to prevent it in the future and I am not trying to blame my failure on the circumstances. I will be building the brief in an email version for distribution later during an MRX. What are some ways you reestablish trust? (I understand that it is a potentially long process.)

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 20 at 2015 11:28 PM

2015-07-20T23:28:21-04:00

Learn from your mistakes and failure. Work hard. Those around you will see your efforts. Remember none of us are perfect. Let this setback be a springboard to the future.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2015 12:44 AM

2015-07-21T00:44:24-04:00

Remember that no one expects perfection. You are supposed to make mistakes in life. The important thing is that they be recoverable and that you learn from them. The biggest thing here is that you recognized your mistake and that you owned it. That sets you apart from the pack and says a lot about your character. If you don't have a NCO for a mentor, seek out the Chief. Keep your chin up and drive on.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2015 8:56 AM

2015-07-21T08:56:44-04:00

I know exactly what you are going through. Not only in the past, when I checked into my first unit did something like this happen to me; it happened again 17 years later. You can't change what happened now, but you can change your future.

Hold your head up, take your licks (reasonably), and use that internal strife you feel inside to push past not only the stumble... but use it to make yourself a better person and Soldier for the future! People need not only someone who's good when things are easy, but someone who's strong when things are tough. Now is your best opportunity to prove you're an NCO to your leaders and the best man for ANY job.

It will take time, but you'll need that time for self improvement and regaining the leadership's trust.

You got this... take the opportunity and push further.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2015 9:41 AM

2015-07-21T09:41:57-04:00

I have had several of these moments in my career so far, each one has made me better. The one that stands out as a good example was showing up to the flight medic course about 10 minutes late on the first day, when I should have been an hour early based on the time I left my house (I lived only an hour and a half away and left 2.5 hours before I had to be there) but unforeseen traffic and other circumstances I thought I had accounted for just didn't pan out. I literally was pinned SGT that day, and my first action as an NCO was showing up LATE, AND due to my misinterpretation of the course syllabus, I was in the wrong uniform too! Imagine how foolish I looked and felt walkin in in ACU's late while everyone else was in PT's? Immediately I lost all respect and I could hear the grumbling a of "look at that idiot etc etc". Well, 4 days later we had our first test, and guess what? I was the ONLY person in the class to ace it with a 100%! Now all of a sudden everyone wanted to study with me and have me lead study sessions and whatnot. The point is, the next thing you do after a failure, do it spectacularly and no one will even remember the failure. Keep your head up buddy, we've all been there and we all made it where we are today.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 23 at 2015 3:52 PM

2015-07-23T15:52:17-04:00

- Shit happens and worrying about it is counterproductive.
- It's always good to have plenty of prep time, let a second pair of eyes see it, go to the actual site of the brief and rehearse it.
- Everyone makes mistakes. Joe Montana threw 139 interceptions but he was still great. Keep a stiff upper lip, walk straight with confidence. You will do fine.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 1 at 2015 8:14 PM

2015-08-01T20:14:28-04:00

Imagine its a football play that you got wrong. You will adjust from it and its still game on.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Aug 1 at 2015 8:24 PM

2015-08-01T20:24:14-04:00

SSG Private RallyPoint Member, I empathize with you. We've all been there, believe me. I think that MAJ Ken Landgren's advice is sound. These lyrics, written in 1936 by Dorothy Fields, although lighthearted, are also appropriate:
"Pick yourself up...
Take a deep breath...
Dust yourself off
And start all over again."

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2015 3:30 PM

2015-08-03T15:30:06-04:00

Happens to the best of us. I see that you're promotable but it seems they wanted to put you on the spot to see how you would react/recover. No worries man, it's more than likely in your head that people look down upon you but I promise you, if THEY were put in a tight situation like they did you, the same might have happened to them. If you truly believe that they have reservations about you, then next time you get the opportunity to brief or execute a task, blow them out of the water with your actions. Exceed past their expectations. and they won't think like that again. You're about to be an NCO so just remember what your leadership did to you when you have a Joe you want to throw to the wolves to see his reaction.