Comments on: On Weakness: Identify, Cope, Accept Mistakes Will Happen, Acknowledge, Correct, Apologize, Learn and Move On.

By: Bobbi Newman

Bobbi Newman — Fri, 13 May 2011 20:53:44 +0000

When they happen here, on this blog, I feel like they keep me humble. Its hard to get too full of yourself when you’re regularly making typos lol I just correct them and move on. But when they happen other places I am definitely embarrassed. Either way though I’d prefer someone politely point them out.

By: Jeffie

Jeffie — Fri, 13 May 2011 19:21:45 +0000

I do that too. Tweet something or post in on the library facebook page, egads! as myself and/or with a misspelling then have to delete it and fix it. I just did that today and it even has the spell correction red lines but so frequently I miss it until it’s already gone. I also tend to read too quickly and tend to try to do /think about too many things at once – so I’m probably one of the people who retweeted your tweet and didn’t even notice the error. So sorry!

It is so hard to admit a weakness because we so frequently tend to view them as flaws. They do make life interesting though! I’m sure my family and colleagues would be totally berefit and morose without my mishaps to laugh at

By: Bobbi Newman

Bobbi Newman — Fri, 13 May 2011 18:36:49 +0000

Lara that is a great way to look at it! Thank you!

By: Lara

Lara — Fri, 13 May 2011 14:11:31 +0000

Bobbi, I have the same weakness. I’ve explored the reasons behind it as a way of trying to fix it. And it has come to light that that if I ‘fixed’ my spelling, it would be at the expense of some of my strengths. I can’t spell because of how I see things. How I see things enables me to speed read and to model things in 3D in my head. Yes, I have a weakness, but that weakness is also a strength. So how I cope with my weakness is by acknowledging my strength.

By: Bobbi

Bobbi — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:41:11 +0000

Chris I agree I’ve seen people who refused to admit they made a mistake even when everyone else knew it and I’ve seen someone been treated poorly when they did make a mistake. I don’t know if saying yes I made it, I’ll fix it, I’m sorry would make a difference. Some people just enjoy the suffering of others.

By: Winnie

Winnie — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:52:33 +0000

Ah the irony – I am an editor and proofer and I can’t spell to save my life. I carry some kind of dictionary with me at all times. You are right about the different forms and when I need to proof something I’ve written change to a rpinted copy or sometimes even a different font. As for weaknesses I think part of the issue is recognising our true failings. We often believe we are bad at things we are quite good at or that things we couldn’t do at 20 we still can’t do at 40.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:43:05 +0000

Well, first of all, Bobbi, not being a gifted proofreader isn’t all that bad. Don’t be too hard on yourself! I do think the question of how we acknowledge and respond to our weaknesses is an important one.

It is all too common that I hear someone explaining to others that we shouldn’t be afraid to make mistakes; however, I often see these same people acting less than understanding when someone does make a mistake. This kind of environment makes it difficult to readily admit weakness, even to ourselves. I have seen, though, the effect of openly accepting accountability for one’s actions. I trust that person more.

Perhaps it is the same with our own weaknesses. If we confront ourselves with the knowledge that they exist, accept them, and plan to improve, we ought to trust ourselves a little more.