I made a huge mistake at work – now I don’t know whether I should own up to it

APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions.

Here, she helps a reader who wants to know how she should proceed after making a big mistake at work.

Q) I made a big mistake at work and I don’t know whether to own up to it or not.

I accidentally CCd a client into an email they definitely shouldn’t have been included in as it contained important company information, but as soon as I noticed (about one minute after hitting send!), I emailed the client separately and apologised.

They replied, saying thanks for my message, but nothing else.

That was a few days ago and I am hoping the client won’t mention it to my boss or wider team.

They haven’t so far, but I also can’t stop worrying that they might. I don’t want to damage my promotion prospects, but I can’t decide what to do.

What do you think?

Anita, via email

A) Everyone makes mistakes, but what is important is how we deal with those mistakes and learn from them – taking responsibility is a must.

Owning up to what happened shows maturity and professionalism, versus dishonesty and lack of accountability if you didn’t.

Mistakes usually come out in the open eventually, so it is better to have control over how and when that happens, instead of “getting caught”.

Tell your manager about the mistake, the steps you took to rectify it and how you can prevent similar errors in the future, as this shows that you’re committed to personal and professional growth.

If the error was serious enough, you may face a disciplinary warning, but it’s better to face it head-on, rather than have it hanging over you indefinitely, causing you further stress and anxiety.

It’s unlikely that one mistake will significantly impact your overall career, but hiding the truth could lead to a lack of trust that is difficult to overcome. 

• Got a careers question for Karren? Email bossingit@fabulousmag.co.uk.