Remember the HBO Max intern who accidentally sent a test integration email to subscribers a few years ago? It’s been making the rounds on social media lately again, and it got me thinking about how we handle mistakes. The company handled it good-naturedly and responded with an apology and a little note adding, “Yes, it was the intern… And we’re helping them through it.” It had to be a little embarrassing to get called out in public, and yet, the humor made it feel less like the mortifying mistake it probably was at the time.

Not only did the company handle this error well, the outpouring of support on social media was astounding. People responded with an enormous amount of graciousness and kindness (seriously, there are some fantastic responses to read here). They shared their own mistakes in the workplace. Reading all the hilarious personal accounts, I just can’t help but imagine that intern’s horror fading away with each cringe-worthy mistake aired for the world to see.

Some might argue that this little snafu was the best marketing that HBO Max could have asked for. Mistakes can certainly have their own silver lining.

No more masking mistakes

Making mistakes is a natural (although sometimes painful) part of life. Some mistakes are small hiccups easily brushed aside, while others can feel like monumental setbacks. However, it’s not the mistakes that define us; how we handle them makes the difference.

Basically, we’d all like to just ignore them and hope they go away. And quickly! Sometimes, you might be the only one who realizes the mistake you made, but other times, it feels like a giant spotlight is highlighting your every move for all the world to see. So, how do you best handle this?

Here is some insight on how to cringe, duck your head and move forward:

Own it. Acknowledge your mistake. Don’t play the blame game. Leave out the excuses. Be honest and open about it. “I forgot to set up the meeting. I’m sorry.” “I dropped the ball on that; please forgive me.” Admitting mistakes shows maturity and honesty. When mistakes involve others, effective communication is key. Open communication builds trust and strengthens relationships.

Learn and grow. Mistakes provide invaluable learning opportunities. Reflecting on what went wrong and what can help you avoid similar situations in the future shows a willingness to develop personally and professionally.

Practice self-compassion. It’s easy to be hard on yourself when you make mistakes. Instead of dwelling on failures, acknowledge your efforts and your strengths. Remember that everyone makes mistakes, and it’s okay not to be perfect. Being kind to yourself brings resilience and motivation to keep trying.

Focus on Solutions. Rather than dwelling on the mistake, work on improvement. Instead of mulling over the mistake itself or assigning blame, shift the focus to finding solutions that lead to productive outcomes. Problem-solving skills are one of the most valuable skills. As one reply to the HBO intern wrote, “…You managed to find something broken in the way integration tests are done. It’s a good thing and will help improve things.”

Practice forgiveness. Forgiveness, both toward yourself and others, is essential for moving forward after mistakes. Holding grudges or resentment only hinders personal growth and damages relationships.

Showing some love to others

I once had a co-worker who was so impatient with the faults of others and would constantly bring them up, even years after an incident. Needless to say, his attitude created a toxic environment, and people naturally avoided him. Forgiveness allows us to let go of negativity and focus on positive solutions.

If you find yourself in the position of needing to forgive someone else, remember how you would want to be treated. We hold a lot of power in our hands to help shape someone’s success in the midst of their failures. I loved one response in the HBO responses: “…You don’t fire an employee for making a mistake; you put them in charge of that process because now they won’t make the same mistake twice.” Isn’t that the truth?!

The truth is, don’t we all feel better when someone says, “Oh, I get it. Guess what I did once?” It just takes a certain level of cringe away and helps a person breathe a little easier. Graciousness in the face of mistakes goes a long way.

Mistakes are inevitable. Instead of seeing them as failures, it’s time to look at them as opportunities for improving ourselves and helping to bring out the best in others. It’s not about being perfect but about learning, growing, and becoming the best versions of ourselves. Your biggest mistake might just become your greatest success story!