Dorothy Wood
03-08-2007, 12:15 PM
I started saying, "I made a mistake" when I screw stuff up now. it's really a relief to just say that, rather than being all defensive about it. or like, just admitting you said something wrong and you feel stupid about it.
I think everyone should be comfortable admitting their mistakes, because if you don't, you just look like a jerk. the front door at my work is about a hundred years old and rather tricky to open. there's a little tiny framed set of instructions telling how to open it right next to it. people constantly think it's locked. and because of that, it's like a personality gauge. once this woman tried to get in and I had to open the door for her because she just couldn't get it. she was yelling through the glass, "it's locked!" (there is no lock on the doorpull) and I said, "push down!" and mimicked pushing down from across the store before walking over.
she came in, still look at the door handle, clicking it and saying, "it's broken, it was locked" and I said calmly, "that part doesn't lock, it's just a tricky door." and she was like, "no, it's broken" and I said, "well, it's not...but I'll get it checked out". and then she was all pissy.
anyway, that was a boring story. sorry. my point is, she couldn't admit that she failed at opening the door and that's stupid.
you just have to press down the lever firmly until it clicks. no big deal. these people today and their fancy knobs.
anyway, when you say, "I made a mistake" people also often think it is a cute thing to say and will not be as mad at you for setting fire to their best socks.
I think everyone should be comfortable admitting their mistakes, because if you don't, you just look like a jerk. the front door at my work is about a hundred years old and rather tricky to open. there's a little tiny framed set of instructions telling how to open it right next to it. people constantly think it's locked. and because of that, it's like a personality gauge. once this woman tried to get in and I had to open the door for her because she just couldn't get it. she was yelling through the glass, "it's locked!" (there is no lock on the doorpull) and I said, "push down!" and mimicked pushing down from across the store before walking over.
she came in, still look at the door handle, clicking it and saying, "it's broken, it was locked" and I said calmly, "that part doesn't lock, it's just a tricky door." and she was like, "no, it's broken" and I said, "well, it's not...but I'll get it checked out". and then she was all pissy.
anyway, that was a boring story. sorry. my point is, she couldn't admit that she failed at opening the door and that's stupid.
you just have to press down the lever firmly until it clicks. no big deal. these people today and their fancy knobs.
anyway, when you say, "I made a mistake" people also often think it is a cute thing to say and will not be as mad at you for setting fire to their best socks.