We all make mistakes. When we do, it is easy for those mistakes to steal attention and focus. We become fixated on them. We get stuck. We want to evaluate, analyze, and fix our mistakes right away. However, I argue that it is best to save analysis until later.
In Sport As In Life
Recently, while I was out of town, I was fortunate enough to have a front row seat to a highly competitive golf tournament.
In golf, as in life, people make mistakes. Time and again, I saw golfers hit shots that were worse than expected. Some of them dropped their heads while others raised their hands in disbelief and frustration. Still other golfers would swing the club again, trying to correct the misguided swing that led to an errant shot.
Is this the time to correct mistakes?
Why Not Fix It Now?
When we pause to make corrections, our attention shifts from the current moment to the moment that just passed. We are no longer in the present.
For the golfers, this means that they could not devote their full attention to the next shot – the one that mattered in the now.
When you try to do your best with less than your full attention, what do you think will happen? If you guessed, “more mistakes,” you are absolutely right.
On numerous occasions and in a variety of contexts, I’ve seen one mistake lead to another that led to another. I’m sure you have too.
In this golf tournament, I watched one player hit at least 3 balls in a row into the water – one right after the other. He was distracted, frustrated, and getting down on himself. His confidence took a major hit as each splash echoed in his ears. It was tough to watch.
Eventually, he got back on track, but with the right strategy, he could have recovered much faster.
How to Quickly Recover from a Mistake
Rather than getting caught up in “fix-it mode,” you can recover from mistakes faster by practicing A.T.E. with these 3 basic steps.
1. Acknowledge the Mistake.
Call it what it is. If you said the wrong thing, made a poor decision, missed a call, or hit the ball into the water, simply acknowledge it.
No denial. But, no self-berating either. Keep things matter-of-fact. Something like, “That wasn’t what I meant to say.”
2. Tag the Mistake.
Either mentally or physically, make a note of the mistake for later review. Think of this like a figurative sticky note, or jot it on a literal sticky note. Again, just the facts.
Taking this step will allow your brain to move on, knowing that the mistake will not go unchecked or unevaluated.
Now you can bring your full attention to the next task – whether that’s the next shot, meeting, or conversation – whatever performance moment is next for you.
3. Evaluate the Mistake Later.
Once the dust has settled and the performance has come to a close, it is time to evaluate and analyze what went wrong.
Use your expertise, experience, or even a colleague to figure out where you went wrong.
Once you’ve identified the error, select a strategy you can control to make improvements for next time.
His Airness
Michael Jordan is well known for taking this sort of approach. He was often seen in the locker room after games with a towel over his head. This signaled to his teammates that he was in analysis mode – like a do not disturb sign.
He would review the game in his mind (using mental imagery), and identify mistakes he’d made. He identified how he could make adjustments to avoid or improve upon those mistakes in practice or in the next game.
Once he had a plan, he took the towel off his head and let the mistakes go. He didn’t carry them around with him; he didn’t dwell on them or beat himself up. Jordan had a plan on which to act and that’s all that mattered.
A.T.E.
No one is perfect. When you make mistakes, remember to save the analysis for later using A.T.E. Doing so will help you keep your head in the game and your confidence high. From the court to the board room, we need our full attention to be at our best.
Question: When have you seen someone get stuck analyzing a mistake when they should have been focused on the task-at-hand? Share your example in the comments below!
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