Mistakes are inevitable, but growth is optional.
Instead of sweeping failures under the rug, own them. When we try to hide our mistakes, we miss out on growth opportunities. Owning up to what went wrong is the first step toward becoming a better engineer.
Every mistake has something to teach us, but only if we take the time to reflect honestly. Ask yourself
- what went wrong?
- what decisions or assumptions led to this outcome?
- what could have been done differently?
A few things that could help - talking it through with teammates, mentors, or even writing it out in a journal can bring clarity and a fresh perspective. Sometimes, the simple act of explaining a failure to someone else makes the lesson stick.
These moments of reflection do hold the power to turn setbacks into building blocks for growth. But reflection alone isn’t enough…
Growth happens when we act on those lessons. It is one thing to know what you should have done, but you improve when you change how you approach similar situations in the future. That’s how you become not just a better engineer, but a better teammate and leader too.
We all make mistakes. It’s inevitable. What matters most is how we choose to respond: own it, learn it, fix it.