Accuracy in business, especially small businesses where even small mistakes can make a big difference, and small losses of income can be crippling, is crucial. When mistakes are made, they cost time and money. They can hurt our reputations and relationships.

Mistakes happen. There’s no way to stop them completely. But, there are things that you can do to reduce them and to increase accuracy. Remember, it’s often faster, and cheaper to take your time and do something right, than to make a mistake in rushing, and have to start again. Often, increasing accuracy is a matter of common sense. But, here are some other tips to help.

Offer Clear Expectations

A significant cause of mistakes in the workplace is that our team is rushed or stressed, or they don’t fully understand what is expected of them or how to complete a task.

So, perhaps the easiest way to minimise mistakes is to offer clear expectations when you set a task or at the start of the working day. Check on understanding, make sure they know exactly what they need to do, and what you want, and give them a clear chance to ask any questions or raise any concerns. Even long-term staff need clear guidance sometimes.

Get the Right Tools

Remember, there are different kinds of errors that we need to be aware of. Human error is usually what comes to mind first, and can be a big one in business; we all make mistakes after all. But people aren’t the only problem. Having faulty equipment and machinery can mean that poor humans don’t stand a chance.

Not cleaning correctly, neglecting maintenance and using things that aren’t correctly calibrated can mean that mistakes are made, no matter what, and you certainly shouldn’t automatically blame a person. Even failing to use one of the best mobile time clocks can mean that payments aren’t accurate, and your business is losing money.

Make sure you have the tools that you need to do your job well, whatever they may be, and invest time and money in making sure they remain in good working order, replacing when necessary.

Listen to Your Team

As managers, we’re not usually the first people to notice when something is wrong, when someone needs help, when a supply is running low, or when something is no longer working as it should. It’s usually the people on the floor, doing the work, that pick up on things first.

If you work with an open-door policy, and you are a kind and approachable employer, your employees will come to you with problems. They’ll let you know when they need help, or when something needs fixing, ordering or changing. On the other hand, if you rule from a distance or with an iron fist, they might not feel comfortable coming to you.

Invest in Training

The nature of business changes. Even if you train your new team members thoroughly, practices change over time. You might have long-term team members that were trained years ago and then left to get on with things. New starters make mistakes because they are new. Older staff make mistakes either because they have grown complacent, or because no refresher training has ever been offered.

Invest your time and money in regular training, for both new and established team members, and fewer mistakes will be made.

Your own training is also important, as the mistakes that you could make might be the costliest. Read new literature, send yourself on courses, and learn from other people in your field to keep your knowledge up to date. Admitting that you don’t know it all and that there is always plenty to learn, is often one of the most effective ways to push your business forward.

Learn from Your Mistakes

We all make mistakes. What sets successful businesses apart is that they learn from them, and rarely make the same mistakes twice. When something goes wrong, don’t just brush it under the carpet. Analyse it. Look at what went wrong and why, and what you can do to ensure that it never happens again. Learn from each other’s mistakes, from hypothetical mistakes, and from the things that other businesses are doing wrong, and no error will ever be a waste.

Accuracy is crucial to a successful business, and even small changes shouldn’t be underestimated. You’ll never eradicate mistakes, but, by learning from them, and by being as accurate as possible the rest of the time, they won’t hurt you long-term. In fact, they could even help you to grow and build.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.