Everyone makes mistakes and faces setbacks sometimes. Maybe you’ve spent weeks cultivating a promising lead only to watch it slip away. Or maybe you’ve meticulously crafted your sales strategy, only for a new competitor to minimize your competitive edge. It can leave you feeling rattled and defeated, and if you made an error, you may also feel embarrassed.
Setbacks can shake your confidence, but they can also be an invaluable part of learning and growing in your job and career. Val Olson, a career and leadership coach for Korn Ferry Advance, says employees often rank mistakes among their top five workplace fears, with about 15% thinking they’ll get fired if they make one.
Instead of fearing you’ll do or say the wrong thing, accept that things don’t always go smoothly. We share Olson’s tips for emerging stronger and better after a setback in this issue of PromoPro Daily.
Own it. Don’t point fingers at someone else or try to minimize the issue. This can be an even worse offense than the mistake itself. Olsen says most employers would consider firing an employee who doesn’t take responsibility for their actions. Always hold yourself accountable.
Take stock. Focus on what you can control. Could you have done anything differently to create a different outcome? When you understand the cause and effect of what went wrong, you can avoid the same mistake in the future.
Request feedback. When something doesn’t go as planned, Olsen says it’s important to get the perspective of others directly involved in the situation. You could also check in with your boss, co-workers and mentors and learn how they overcame their own setbacks.
Regroup and reset. After some reflection, Olsen advises creating a strategy to prevent the same missteps the next time around. Set new goals with your team or boss, develop an action plan and check in regularly with progress or challenges.
Don’t linger on the issue. Try to have a short-term memory, Olsen says. Just like quarterbacks keep going after throwing an interception and baseball players step up to the plate after striking out, always focus on the next opportunity. Olsen recommends staying positive and visualizing success.
Setbacks can come in various forms but remember they’re not the end of the road. Learn from them when you can. Maybe you could have done something differently or you missed warning signs along the way. Every no brings you another step closer to a yes, so pick yourself up, recalibrate and keep going.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Val Olson is a career and leadership coach for Korn Ferry Advance.
