How to Deal With Making Mistakes

Mistakes are a strange and horrifying experience in the realm of web development. One minor change could throw the footer of the site off completely. If it isn’t properly checked, that disfigurement could go into Production before anyone really realizes it, making your face red with that small error. The simple fact is, you try your best not to make any mistakes, but everyone does it – it’s a part of the learning process. Making mistakes isn’t the bad thing as much as how you react to making that mistake. One of my favorite examples of how to handle a bad mistake comes from the science fiction movie series Star Wars. You could watch this series and pick apart hundreds of mistakes – both on screen and behind the cameras – but my personal favorite comes from Lando Calrissian.

A warning for those who haven’t watched Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back, spoilers ahead!

When Lando Calrissian first appears on screen, you wouldn’t believe that he would be making a single mistake. Actor Billy Dee Williams’s appearance of swagger and confidence lends nothing but credibility and an immediate sense of comfort to his character, albeit after his little joke on Han. You could hardly imagine that he would soon betray his friend and their allies to the most heinous force in the galaxy. However, that is exactly what he does. Even though he had his reasons, and saving Cloud City was ultimately extremely important to him and the people living there, Lando soon comes to see that his decision was a horrible mistake. So what does he do?

In the face of his mistake, Lando doesn’t back down or try to pin the blame on someone else. He takes full responsibility for the blunder and doesn’t waste his time over-explaining or inundating those affected with a slew of excuses. Lando states plainly and clearly the entirety of the situation and that he made a miscalculation. He had his reasons that he realized were faulty, and now it is time to fix it, all while springing into action! Obviously, Chewbacca and Leia do not initially trust their betrayer, but this doesn’t stop Lando from continuing to help – even with Chewbacca’s hands around his neck.

At this point, I feel it’s important to point out the response that Leia and Chewbacca have to Lando. They have no reason to trust him, especially as they’ve already had time to process his betrayal while being forced to understand the new information as quickly as possible. Hopefully, this isn’t a similar situation to one you would have in the workplace, so we can discard their initial fear and lack of trust even if it was important to their specific situation. Beyond that reaction that most likely won’t come up with your coworkers, they allow Lando to attempt to fix the state of affairs. As the story progresses into Episode 6: Return of the Jedi, no one brings up Lando’s mistake again. No one is hovering this blunder over his head and constantly reminding him of his failure. Everyone has seen that Lando admitted his mistake and did everything he could to rectify it. But most importantly, he doesn’t repeat his mistake in any way, giving everyone reason to trust him.

In the overall story of the original Star Wars trilogy, Lando’s mistake and his reaction to it really only serve to move the plot forward and provide a new ally for the resistance. In analyzing what actually happened, you can glean a lesson from the situation, which is the most important part of any fictional work. Lando messes up, and he does so horrifically. Upon realizing his mistake, Lando brings everyone involved up to speed while attempting his fix. The people working with Lando hesitantly trust his actions while watching him closely and eventually come to realize that he’s doing his best to rectify the problem. This solidifies their trust and their bond, ensuring they can progress together as a team towards success.

As silly as it may seem, this is one of my favorite lessons learned from narrative works. It is important to remember that everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes they are bad. What tells you the most about a person is how they respond to their mistake and how that response can either strengthen the bond or dissolve any trust they have with their surrounding team. I find it very important to admit your mistakes, explain the situation, and do everything in your power to fix the problem quickly just like Lando Calrissian. Sometimes, admitting your blunders can be scary. If it helps to imagine yourself as a cloak-swirling, suave warrior from a cloud city, I hope that gives you the courage to do what’s right.