I Messed Up at Work: How to Recover from a Major Work Blunder 7 | 34

We’ve all been there—that heart-sinking moment when you realize you’ve messed up at work. Kim, Jason, and Amy discuss how to recover from a big mistake without letting self-blame take over. Inspired by a Reddit post about a project that fell months behind, they share lessons from their own experiences, practical ways to take responsibility, and how to follow through with a recovery plan that actually works. You’ll learn why asking for support is a strength, not a weakness, and how managers can identify trouble early, check in effectively, and foster a culture where it’s safe to speak up before problems escalate. Whether you’ve missed a deadline, dropped the ball, or just want to be ready if things go sideways, this episode will help you rebuild trust and turn a setback into an opportunity for growth. Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Episode Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Transcript Barings Bank: Its Collapse, Acquisition, and Lessons Learned | Investopedia I Fell Behind At Work And Fucked Up: How Do I Move Forward? | Reddit Resources For Feedback Training, Coaching & Development | Radical Candor How Delivering Bad News Early Strengthens Your Relationships at Work | Radical Candor Why Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why 6 Steps for Setting Measurable Goals to Avoid "Productivity Paranoia" | Radical Candor The Bob Story, a Tale of Ruinous Empathy | Radical Candor Podcast 4 | 1 Connect: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Kim, Jason, and Amy introduce a Redditor’s dilemma about falling months behind on a project. (00:02:59) When Big Mistakes Happen Stories of mistakes and why they feel so personal. (00:04:05) From Lost to Regained Credibility Why credibility is already damaged—and how to earn it back. (00:06:20) Getting Away With Mistakes How getting away with a risky choice makes it tempting to repeat. (00:08:32) Procrastination or Denial? Recognizing the difference and the risk to your reputation. (00:12:31) Acknowledging the Mistake Why the first step to regaining credibility is admitting the error. (00:15:34) Kim’s Story of Denial A personal startup experience, health struggles, and hard truths. (00:20:29) Accountability Without Punishment Why admitting mistakes doesn’t mean beating yourself up. (00:21:40) The Manager’s Role How leaders can spot issues early and make bad news safe to share. (00:26:34) Escaping the “Death March” Breaking the cycle of repeated missed deadlines. (00:29:45) Preventing Crisis With Goal Tracking How visibility helps identify delays before they become disasters. (00:33:09) A Plan to Rebuild Trust Steps for repairing credibility with your boss and peers. (00:36:11) Cognitive vs. Affective Trust The two sides of workplace trust and how to restore them. (00:38:04) Radical Candor Tips Advice for self-forgiveness, peer support, and managing accountability. (00:41:37) Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices