In communication, it’s equally important to convey as it is to acknowledge. That’s how dialog works, but sometimes things don’t go as planned. People make mistakes, but not everyone apologizes or even realizes that they made a blunder.

It all boils down to empathy. Humans have it in different levels, which is why there are bullies on the one hand, and drama queens on the other. Empathy is the ability to understand and even feel what another person is experiencing from within the “victim’s” frame of reference. In short, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. For example, feeling sorry for someone who just spilled coffee all over their shirt, or giving a friend a big hug when he/she is down.

But what about the reactions to our own mistakes? Having the capacity to admit being wrong is equally important, and it is a major quality in a person. A brief infographic by Anna Vital presents 16 different reactions to making mistakes, from self accusations like “what’s wrong with me?” and “is it really a mistake?” to complete denial, like “who’s to blame for it?” or “I don’t make mistakes.”

Not everyone reacts the same, because circumstances differ and personalities differ even more. However, there are always the good-practice reactions for certain errors. For example, if a team member has failed to meed a deadline because you held him back, it’s only fair to acknowledge this and even apologize. But say this acknowledgment will cost you a promotion. What would you do then? Let us know what you think in the comments below. What are your most common reactions to your own slip-ups?

Photo by Abigail Keenan on Unsplash