Ever Been Stunned by a setback? Try These 5 Moves

Setbacks are unavoidable.  But these 5 steps can help you bounce back…

We have all faced it:  We miss out on a promotion or a job offer, face harsh criticism, or fail to reach an important goal.  Rebuilding your confidence after a setback is possible, but resilience requires reflection, patience, and proactive steps.  Writing in Forbes, senior contributor Benjamin Laker offers this advice:

• Acknowledge and process the setback:  It’s natural to feel disappointed or frustrated, and burying those feelings can prevent you from fully understanding what happened and why.  But be conscious of your self-talk.  Instead of “I’m not good enough,” try telling yourself, “Things didn’t work out this time.”
• Reflect on what you can learn:  No matter how painful, every setback offers an opportunity for growth. Once you’ve processed your emotions, reorient your focus to learning.  Ask yourself: What skills or areas do I need to develop to avoid a similar situation in the future?  This can turn a negative experience into a learning opportunity.
• Be kind to yourself:  While acknowledging any missteps is important, be sure to consider any external factors that contributed to your situation.  Perhaps, financial constraints took precedence over your goals or a project took longer than you had planned.
• Seek feedback and support:  Although retreat and isolation may be tempting, seeking support from trusted colleagues is one of the best ways to reestablish perspective.
• Take small, measurable steps forward:  Regaining confidence works best with small, achievable interim goals to restore a sense of accomplishment.  By focusing on progress, you ready yourself for success. 

What have you done to recover from a setback in your professional life?  To join the conversation, click on  "comments" below.

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