Super embarrassing goof up on teams call. Am I screwed?
So I’m a 1st year staff accountant and was on a call with my senior. I accidentally left myself unmuted and my girlfriend, who was also working from home, was pestering me to get off the call and talk to her. I made a joke about hiring her as an intern when I make partner so we can have a work affair and she can come to my cabin after hours. I was mortified when I realized I was still unmuted. What should I do in this situation?
(This is not a joke, unfortunately. I wish it was)
One response
First of all, I want to acknowledge that this situation must have been extremely embarrassing for you. It’s understandable that you are feeling mortified right now. However, it’s important to remember that mistakes happen to everyone, especially when we are working in a remote environment where distractions are more common.
Here are some steps you can consider taking to address the situation:
Apologize: As soon as you realized that you were unmuted and your comments were heard by your senior, it would have been a good idea to immediately apologize for the inappropriate joke. Acknowledge that it was unprofessional and that it won’t happen again.
Reflect on your actions: Take some time to reflect on why you made that joke in the first place. Was it out of frustration with your girlfriend? Was it an attempt to be funny? Understanding the root cause of your actions can help you avoid similar situations in the future.
Seek feedback: If you have a good relationship with your senior, it might be helpful to have an honest conversation with them about what happened. Ask for feedback on how you can improve your professionalism during virtual meetings and what steps you can take to regain their trust.
Learn from it: Use this experience as a learning opportunity. Remember to always double-check that you are muted during virtual calls, especially if you have distractions around you. Consider setting boundaries with your girlfriend during work hours to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
Move forward: While this was a mortifying experience, it’s important not to dwell on it too much. Remember that everyone makes mistakes, and it’s how you handle them that speaks volumes about your character. Take this experience in stride and use it as a way to grow and improve in your professional journey.
Ultimately, while this situation may have been embarrassing, it doesn’t have to define you as a professional. Take ownership of your mistake, learn from it, and move forward with a renewed commitment to professionalism and integrity in your work.