How to address a colleague’s mistake

“My golden rule of correcting someone is to always show empathy,” shares Smriti Joshi, chief of clinical services at mental health support platform Wysa. “Before diving into the correction, take a moment to acknowledge that everyone can have an off day. A simple, ‘I know these things happen to all of us,’ can help remind the person that mistakes are part of the learning process.”

Try saying: “I think you might have meant [correct detail] instead of [mistaken detail]? Just wanted to flag it to make sure we’re all on the same page.”

“The use of “I think” softens the correction, and “Just wanted to flag it” makes it feel like a helpful clarification rather than a direct callout,” Joshi adds.

“Wherever possible, I would recommend raising this with the person in private,” suggests career expert and mentor Rebecca Ann. “I have witnessed many people go in hard telling someone else they are wrong, only to have to row back. So I recommend being softer in your approach, particularly if this is the first time you have raised it.”

Try saying: “I believe there is an error in the document or I believe there has been a mistake in [DETAILS]. I think the correct information is…/it should be/read…”

How to correct a colleague who misspeaks

“When correcting someone’s mistake at work, it’s always good to be mindful of the power dynamic between you,” says Yesim Nicholson, a career coach and author of Ready To Quit Your Job? “Especially in hierarchical settings, be conscious of how your feedback might be received. When you’re in a position of authority, balancing your tone and ensuring that your feedback is geared toward professional growth can help prevent any feelings of being talked down to.”

Try saying: “You just said [incorrect information]. I just wanted to check whether that’s what you meant to say. I want to make sure we’re on the same page.”

“Remember to take note of your tone and delivery in situations like this,” Nicholson stresses. “It’s as much about the tonality and body language that’s used as it is about the words – in some cases even more so.”

How to correct someone’s mistake at work (nicely and professionally)