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最後に↓をポチっとお願いします♪
にほんブログ村
I've been deeply interested in Japanese history for the past year, and lately, I've been enjoying the manga Shinkurou, Hashiru! by Masami Yuuki, which features Ise Shinkurou (later known as Hojo Soun), often considered Japan's first Sengoku warlord.
What manga have you been reading lately?
Mistakes inevitably occur in the course of work, especially minor human errors in administrative or back-office tasks where multiple people are involved.
For example, I often have administrative staff organize expense reports, but due to simple errors or oversights, mistakes sometimes happen.
When such situations arise, I don’t blame or criticize the person, but I do want to discuss how we can prevent similar mistakes in the future.
Naturally, in these conversations, I expect that the person who made the mistake would first acknowledge it and apologize. However, in a recent case, instead of simply admitting the mistake, the person argued, "It’s hard to notice!" (meaning it wasn’t clear at first glance whether A or B was the correct process) and eventually became upset.
From an administrative standpoint, errors can be corrected and reprocessed, so I didn’t see the need for such a strong reaction.
Of course, I acknowledge my own fault in leaving everything to others. However, in this particular instance, I had actually confirmed with the person beforehand, asking, "Is this format okay?"
Despite that, the mistake still happened. Since the original approach (A) didn’t work, we need to find an alternative (B) to prevent future errors.
My belief is that human willpower is inherently weak. Even if someone swears, "I won’t make this mistake again!" at that moment, it doesn't guarantee that mistakes will be avoided.
What truly helps prevent errors is creating an environment where tasks are consistently repeated and adapted over time. However, for tasks that occur only occasionally, it’s difficult to turn them into habitual processes.
In our field, normal working conditions may seem safe, but once work begins, hidden dangers emerge.
For example, when using a grinder, a stray wire could fly into someone’s eye, or a glove could get caught, causing a hand injury. A single mistake can lead to serious consequences.
That’s why, compared to those who don’t regularly handle these tasks, we are slightly better at performing them safely—simply because we do them all the time.
But ultimately, workplace safety depends on each individual worker. This is why major automobile factories implement risk assessment and countermeasures—to reduce reliance on human judgment for safety.
When work processes rely on human decisions, mistakes happen. But if we automate those processes, errors become less likely, and the workload is reduced.
Furthermore, if someone can’t even admit their mistakes, it may eventually lead to the point where others say, "Forget it, I’ll handle it myself."
Mistakes and countermeasures should always go hand in hand. If an error happens and a preventive measure is possible, it should be implemented immediately rather than dismissed as a one-time occurrence.
Instead of wasting time feeling down or getting angry, it’s more productive to analyze why the mistake happened and take action to prevent it from recurring.
Having a humble attitude and acknowledging mistakes is the key to personal growth.
So, can you honestly admit your work mistakes?
Today’s Quote
"As long as humans are doing the work, mistakes are inevitable. The important thing is not to ignore them but to implement countermeasures to prevent them from happening again."
See you next time!
Lastly, please click below!
[Link to Business Blog on Nihon Blog Village]
