One of the hardest things for people to do is to admit they’ve made a mistake. Our egos are easily bruised and we will often do anything in our power to maintain our pride – even if that means not taking ownership for something we’ve done wrong. Instead of covering up what you did or praying that no one finds out you aren’t faultless, admit that you’ve messed up and move on! 

No one expects us to be perfect – mistakes happen. Not only will it show that you are confident enough in your abilities to accept your slip-up, acknowledging when you have made an error can make a big difference in informing the office culture. 

It sets a precedent for your co-workers and the people you supervise that it’s okay to make mistakes, and demonstrates that the quicker the problem is addressed the quicker it can be resolved.
 

Kyle Wiens, a writer for the Harvard Business Review, recently blogged about how he will not hire someone with bad grammar, going as far as to give grammar tests to potential employees. A little extreme? Maybe. But he brings up a good point. Typos and improper grammar give off the impression that you either don’t know how to write correctly, or are too lazy to go back and check your work. 

We all make mistakes, and a misplaced comma does not mark the end of your professional career. However, taking the extra time to proofread your emails and company publications will ensure that you are giving off the best possible image. If you know that you are one to make grammar and spelling mistakes, enlist a fellow co-worker to quickly scan your work before you click “send.” We don’t all have to be champions of the spelling bee, but a little editing goes a long way.

Social media is a quick, free way for you to keep your customers up-to-date with your business and attract new clients. Facebook and Twitter are not just places to share your vacation photos- they are great tools to promote your company. Easy-to-use and popular during lunch breaks, social media sites are a valuable addition to your company’s marketing plan. So take a minute to set-up an account for your business, or if you already use social media, check to make sure that you are regularly posting relevant information about your company. Consumers follow “out-of-sight, out-of-mind”, so make sure that your business stays at the top of their news feed!