Learn from Early Mistakes

Mistakes are the food for growth. If you stop making them, you will stop growing professionally. You can always spot people who are scared of trying something new or doing something differently for fear they may mess up or get reprimanded for making a mistake.

While you may think you must know everything immediately, no one else thinks you should. At the start of a new job, you have a “grace period” to make mistakes. Remember that. Use it and learn from it.

When you do make a mistake, career expert Roy Blitzer says, “admit it. Be clear that no one is perfect. Say ‘I’m new and I didn’t know the way of the land.’ But, be careful. You can’t make too many mistakes in the beginning.”

A mistake is often overlooked if you take responsibility for your error. If your boss and colleagues feel that the mistake served a purpose, they’ll know you learned something and are unlikely to repeat it. Lighten up a little and leave it behind.