In November, elections were running high. Candidates were campaigning, citizens were voting and positions were being filled. For one political hopeful however, the election was a bittersweet success.

In Connecticut, James J. Butler was elected to the Board of Apportionment and Taxation by a large margin. In fact, his popularity was such that he received the most votes in the race. Unfortunately, he was not actually seeking a position. It was in fact his father, James R. Butler, who vied for the seat. Turns out, the ballot had a typo.

To say the very least, this bungle sparked quite a bit a buzz inside the political arena. The Secretary of State confirmed that this type of mistake has never occurred before. And since no one really knows what the protocol for something like this is, the ultimate decision has yet to be announced. So, despite James R. Butler’s insistence that his son wants nothing to do with the position, James J. Butler is still technically the elected official.

The town has a couple of options, including swearing in James J. Butler, then having him resign, and Democrats could appoint his father to replace him. The other would be to not swear in anyone, and allow the position to remain vacant.

Surely it comes as no surprise when we say that human error exists. And despite our best efforts, avoiding mistakes such as the one above is not always guaranteed. Of course this knowledge can in no way make up for the utter confusion, frustration and outright disappointment that James R. Butler is experiencing currently, but it is a lesson to us all nonetheless. No matter how simple a task may appear, never underestimate the challenge it may bring.

In many situations, the repercussions of a small spelling mistake may be nothing more than slight embarrassment or annoyance. But as we have now seen, even the tiniest misstep in detail can turn into a major debacle. And that is why Slaughter Development offers Workplace Diagnostics. Through this service we help clients discover workflow disruptions and countercompentencies that inhibit individuals and teams from performing their jobs effectively.

When it comes to simple mistakes in your office, stay in the race. Take the steps necessary to achieve success rather than conceding to the problems. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.

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