On 11 March 2026, IP Inclusive and Jonathan’s Voice co-hosted a webinar which explored how professionals in the IP sector experience mistakes and how these experiences can become opportunities for learning, resilience, and professional growth. The discussion addressed why mistakes can feel particularly significant in the IP professions, the role of perfectionism, and the importance of psychological safety in the workplace.
The session began with a short presentation from Donna Smith (Training & Development Lead, Jonathan’s Voice). She then led a panel discussion with panellists Jane Wainwright (Executive Coach at Starry-Eyed Pragmatics), Dr Alicia Instone (Partner at Cleveland Scott York) and Simon Keevey-Kothari (Barrister at Carpmaels & Ransford LLP).
Click here to access a recording of the webinar. Read on for our summary of the highlights.
The Weight of Mistakes in the IP Professions
Mistakes can feel especially significant in the IP professions because accuracy and precision are central to the work. Even small errors can appear enormous when the stakes involve legal rights, client interests, and strict procedural requirements. As a result, professionals may fear that a mistake will define their competence or permanently affect how colleagues and clients perceive them.
Several factors contribute to this heightened pressure. First, the professions carry strong expectations of high standards and technical rigour, where precision truly matters. Second, there is external accountability: mistakes may affect clients, legal outcomes, or commercial decisions. Finally, many professionals internalise a strong professional identity based on competence and reliability, making it emotionally difficult to accept that errors are sometimes inevitable.
The Role of Perfectionism
Perfectionism is a common trait among IP professionals. In many ways, it is beneficial, as it supports attention to detail and encourages high-quality work. However, when perfectionism becomes excessive or unmanaged, it can have negative consequences.
Participants noted that perfectionism may lead individuals to interpret normal human errors as personal failures. It can also contribute to stress, procrastination, or excessive time spent trying to make work flawless when “good enough” would be sufficient. In extreme cases, perfectionist tendencies may even drive individuals away from the IP professions if they feel unable to meet their own standards.
Learning from Mistakes: A Shift in Mindset
A key theme of the webinar was the importance of adopting a learning-oriented mindset. Drawing on the work of Carol Dweck, the discussion contrasted a fixed mindset with a growth mindset. In a fixed mindset, mistakes are interpreted as evidence of personal inadequacy. In a growth mindset, mistakes are seen as data—valuable information that helps guide learning and improvement.
Learning in professional practice is often iterative. Development occurs through cycles of trying, reflecting, adjusting, and improving. Recognising this process can make mistakes easier to process and integrate into ongoing professional growth.
A Practical Approach to Responding to Mistakes
The speakers suggested a four-step process for responding constructively when a mistake occurs:
- Pause – Take a moment to breathe before reacting to the mistake.
- Reflect – Review what actually happened and focus on the facts.
- Learn – Identify the key lesson or insight from the situation.
- Re-engage – Apply the learning and move forward in practice.
This approach helps transform a potentially distressing experience into a constructive learning opportunity.
Experiences from the Panellists
The panellists shared personal experiences of mistakes from earlier in their careers, demonstrating how common such situations are. From non-critical mistakes (such as accidentally signing off with the phrase “do hesitate to contact us”), to more serious mistakes, the panellists reflected on how awful they felt having made the mistake, the negative self-talk they experienced (such as berating themselves for being an idiot), and their worries about how their manager and client would react and how the mistake could impact their career.
One panellist described a more serious mistake involving filing a divisional application. Although she didn’t believe there had been an error, the EPO alleged that the application had been invalidly filed. Corrective action was required to try to restore that application, as well as validly filing a replacement application, incurring substantial costs for the firm. However, the experience ultimately reinforced her confidence in her professional judgement (she was proved right in the end) and demonstrated that most problems do have solutions.
Another panellist reflected on frequently encountering issues early in her career that required practical fixes. These experiences helped her realise that many procedural errors can be remedied if addressed promptly. She also discussed missing deadlines for filing responses due to IT problems. The remedy at the EPO was further processing but was less clear at the UKIPO, so she simply wrote to them explaining the situation. Although the experiences early in her career initially affected her confidence, they ultimately helped her develop resilience and the confidence to advocate for herself.
A third panellist described overlooking a group of cases during a portfolio transfer, which led to a moment of panic when an annuity notice arrived. Initially panic set in along with doubts over what else had been missed and what would happen next. In retrospect, the incident reinforced the value of established procedures and careful record management, as well as never rushing tasks.
Changing Relationships with Mistakes
Over time, the speakers’ perspectives on mistakes had evolved significantly. Early in their careers, mistakes often felt catastrophic. With experience, they came to recognise that errors can occur to anyone and at any stage of a career. They also emphasised learning opportunities provided by a mistake, both for themselves and others, noting that often standard procedures will be updated to safeguard against future errors.
They all reflected on the importance of how you respond to a mistake:
- Seek guidance and support from senior colleagues as soon as a problem arises,
- Communicate openly,
- Avoid panic and worry,
- Look for solutions.
Recounting what has happened in a rational way can help you to move out of negative feelings and towards identifying solutions. Not delaying is crucial as many fixes are time-critical and early discussion with colleagues often leads to faster solutions and prevents small problems from escalating.
The speakers now realise that mistakes are not the end of the world and that most issues can be resolved. Even in the worst-case scenario that rights are lost, remember that patents are a business tool to make money, so financial compensation via professional insurance will provide a solution.
Psychological Safety in the Workplace
A recurring theme was the importance of psychological safety in professional environments. When individuals feel safe acknowledging mistakes without fear of humiliation or blame, they are more likely to raise issues early and seek help.
Supervisors and leaders play a key role in creating this culture. Helpful approaches include responding calmly when mistakes occur, emphasising that errors are a normal part of professional practice, and focusing on solutions rather than blame. Senior professionals can also contribute by openly sharing their own experiences of mistakes, demonstrating that learning continues throughout a career.
Managing Perfectionism
The speakers also discussed practical strategies for managing perfectionist tendencies. One useful tool is the “3Q framework,” which encourages individuals to ask themselves three questions:
- What is the worst that could happen?
- What is the best possible outcome?
- What is the statistically most likely outcome?
This technique helps shift attention from emotional reactions toward a more balanced and rational perspective.
Advice for Early-Career Professionals
The webinar also addressed the anxieties faced by trainees and newly-qualified professionals, particularly regarding professional exams. The speakers emphasised that failing an exam does not define a person’s abilities or career prospects. Many professionals fail exams at some point, and improvement often comes through experience, practice, and developing exam technique.
Participants were encouraged to seek support from colleagues, mentors, and professional support organisations such as LawCare. Open discussion with peers can also help individuals realise that they are not alone in their challenges.
Key Takeaways
The webinar concluded with several key messages. Mistakes are an inevitable part of professional life, particularly in demanding and detail-oriented fields such as intellectual property. While errors may initially feel overwhelming, they often provide valuable opportunities for learning and development.
Maintaining perspective, seeking support, and focusing on practical solutions can transform mistakes into stepping stones for growth. A workplace culture that promotes openness, psychological safety, and shared learning plays an essential role in enabling professionals to move forward with confidence.
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