This is an
essay. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of
Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been
thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. |
This page in a nutshell: Mea culpa is a Latin phrase that translates into English as "my fault". It can be used to let others know you have made a mistake. Making mistakes is not always avoidable, but one can always respond to their mistakes once they are realized. |
Often the ability to admit that one was in the wrong can very quickly lead to productivity. It is expected that any person will make a mistake once in a while, but it is essential that a person be able to realize, accept, and do their best to remedy their errors once realized or pointed out.
Inherent human nature dictates that no one is perfect. It is simply not possible for a person to avoid making a mistake or two from time to time. Yet admitting a mistake willingly can build character and makes it possible to react to the error in a very productive fashion. This can help alleviate guilt and distrust within the group and helps to foster a more collaborative environment.
You don't need to beat yourself up if you make a mistake and seeking punishment for a good faith error of others quickly blurs into a witchhunt. A much more reasoned and productive path is to seek to repair or mitigate any damage the error may have caused.
The first step in recognizing and repairing a mistake is realizing you made one. Below are some signs that you may have made a mistake:
Actually, if you are a prolific editor, you might easily end up making 1 mistake every 100 edits or so. It is imperative to catch as many mistakes as possible.
Accept the fact that you are going to make mistakes. Don't be afraid of them. Instead, work defensively, try to anticipate how things can go wrong, and try to figure out ways to mitigate those situations before they occur. Then, if you did judge the situation wrong, you'll immediately know what to do, and won't panic.
If you are caught in a situation where you don't know what to do, solicit advice from others, and follow it!
In summary, be prepared to exit as gracefully as possible, and have that preparation done before you even go into any particular situation.
"Know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away, know when to run."
The way you behave can help a lot in how people accept your behavior. Being graceful, asking for advice, and showing that you are listening to people can go a long way to attracting an assumption of good faith.
Oddly, by being prepared to walk away, for some reason people will actually be more likely to accept your ideas. Possibly this has to do with the fact that you are more relaxed, and can think more clearly (and thus argue more clearly for your position).
When reacting to your mistake it may be best to start by assessing the damage. Ask yourself what damage has been caused:
This is an
essay. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of
Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been
thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. |
This page in a nutshell: Mea culpa is a Latin phrase that translates into English as "my fault". It can be used to let others know you have made a mistake. Making mistakes is not always avoidable, but one can always respond to their mistakes once they are realized. |
Often the ability to admit that one was in the wrong can very quickly lead to productivity. It is expected that any person will make a mistake once in a while, but it is essential that a person be able to realize, accept, and do their best to remedy their errors once realized or pointed out.
Inherent human nature dictates that no one is perfect. It is simply not possible for a person to avoid making a mistake or two from time to time. Yet admitting a mistake willingly can build character and makes it possible to react to the error in a very productive fashion. This can help alleviate guilt and distrust within the group and helps to foster a more collaborative environment.
You don't need to beat yourself up if you make a mistake and seeking punishment for a good faith error of others quickly blurs into a witchhunt. A much more reasoned and productive path is to seek to repair or mitigate any damage the error may have caused.
The first step in recognizing and repairing a mistake is realizing you made one. Below are some signs that you may have made a mistake:
Actually, if you are a prolific editor, you might easily end up making 1 mistake every 100 edits or so. It is imperative to catch as many mistakes as possible.
Accept the fact that you are going to make mistakes. Don't be afraid of them. Instead, work defensively, try to anticipate how things can go wrong, and try to figure out ways to mitigate those situations before they occur. Then, if you did judge the situation wrong, you'll immediately know what to do, and won't panic.
If you are caught in a situation where you don't know what to do, solicit advice from others, and follow it!
In summary, be prepared to exit as gracefully as possible, and have that preparation done before you even go into any particular situation.
"Know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away, know when to run."
The way you behave can help a lot in how people accept your behavior. Being graceful, asking for advice, and showing that you are listening to people can go a long way to attracting an assumption of good faith.
Oddly, by being prepared to walk away, for some reason people will actually be more likely to accept your ideas. Possibly this has to do with the fact that you are more relaxed, and can think more clearly (and thus argue more clearly for your position).
When reacting to your mistake it may be best to start by assessing the damage. Ask yourself what damage has been caused: