Good Systems · public information library

What can I do at work to help someone when one mistake feels like a very big deal to them?

People come here to understand why something in everyday life feels harder, different or more costly than it should — and what might make it work better.

Short answer

Treat mistakes as specific work events, not as proof of a person’s worth or reliability.

What this can look like

A small error can trigger blame and defensive overchecking across a team.

Why it can happen

A strong response to an error may reflect real responsibility, high stakes or fear of consequences. Address the impact, repair path and learning needed without escalating shame.

What might help

Separate the fix, the process lesson and the person. Review the system fairly.

What the research helps explain

Research and public guidance describe perfectionism and overcontrol by their impact on finishing, flexibility, relationships and quality of life. In a workplace, clear standards, proportionate quality controls and fair management are useful without deciding whether an employee has OCD, OCPD, anxiety or another experience.

What can vary

The same behaviour can have different meanings in different work contexts. Do not diagnose employees, request private medical information or make support conditional on disclosure. Focus on task demands, impact and a workable agreement.

For this situation

For you, make post-error conversations factual, fair and forward-looking.

More info and original sources

Poko summarises the relevance of public original sources and links out for anyone who wants to read more.