G
reat job recognizing your mis-
takes and the need to build your
relationship with the manager
impacted! Now acknowledge your
mistakes verbally, at a high level, via conver-
sation with your “new” manager. Know this
is important as trust is a priority in a suc-
cessful business relationship and a healthy
team environment. Below are some great
ways you can approach your manager.
EXAMPLE 1
I recognize I wasn’t the best employee
or teammate I could have been when we last
worked together. I want to first apologize and
give you the confidence this will not happen
again. I look forward to being a great teammate
this time. Please tell me more about how I can
help our team be one of the best.
Notice, you shouldn’t spend time
detailing each mistake you’ve made.
Rehashing old news could flame negatively.
Acknowledge, apologize, commit and move
on to what success looks like in the future.
EXAMPLE 2
I’ve made professional mistakes in the past,
but am now here to improve who I am and
how I can help our clients and our team. First
I apologize and commit to this not happening
again. Second, I’d love to help our team move to
the top of team rankings. I have experience in
accounting with great accuracy. I’d like to offer
to help our team on the following reports when
things are slow with my regular responsibilities.
May I help with these projects at the end of every
quarter?
In this case, you’ve acknowledged your
mistakes, apologized and made a commit-
ment to improve your contributions. Here,
instead of asking the manager how you
can help the team, you proactively make a
suggestion about how you can help based
on your strengths and experiences.
No matter what approach you decide
to take, remember to act on the feedback or
expectations you and your manager agree
upon. If you feel the expectations are not
appropriate, take perspective, and then
follow your gut. Seek guidance through
prayer and guidance of the right profes-
sionals.
If your manager interrupts, don’t
attempt to justify. Simply listen, thank him
for expressing his thoughts and focus on
how to move forward in the right direction.
In other words, keep your eye on moving
ahead. Immediately acknowledging your
mistakes and offering an apology will help
you do just that. Note there are other behav-
iors that will help you continue to grow
and have a better work experience. These
include gaining perspective and developing
your EQ (emotional intelligence) skills. In
addition, consider hiring a coach and/or
engaging your mentor to help you as you
continue to navigate your career and your
professional relationships in the future.
#RiseAndFly
Hope LeNoir, Forward Thinking Professional
Development Strategist and Coach, is the
Founder of Rise and Fly.
www.himpowermagazine.com 35