How to Use Performance Review Feedback to Rebuild After a Mistake

Everyone makes mistakes at work. But how you handle the performance review after a major error can define your career trajectory. In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into the specific case of a software engineer at a major tech company who accidentally pushed a bug that took down the company's payment system for six hours. Instead of deflecting blame, she used her performance review to own the mistake, document what she learned, and propose a new testing protocol that became company-wide. Lucas breaks down the three-part structure she used: owning the impact without over-apologizing, framing the learning with specific metrics, and offering a concrete fix. Luna pushes back on whether this approach works in more blame-oriented cultures. They also discuss the difference between a 'career-ending mistake' and a 'career-building response' — and how the same framework applies to smaller missteps. Plus, a brief word on how listener support keeps the show ad-free. #PerformanceReview #CareerMistakes #RebuildingTrust #LearningFromFailure #FeedbackCulture #CareerResilience #OwnYourMistake #BlameVsAccountability #TestingProtocol #EngineerMistake #PsychologicalSafety #CareerGrowth #ManagerRelationship #TrustRepair #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #WorkplaceLearning Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo