Everybody has horrible days and weeks sometimes when nothing seems to go right. We’ve all had situations when we didn’t get what we truly desired and found it difficult to deal.
Some individuals, however, seem to be considerably better than others at getting back up after these events.
These individuals aren’t inherently “better” in any sense; rather, they have just acquired certain good habits and abilities that enable them to overcome failure and make the most of it.
In actuality, they utilize failure to grow and learn. This article explores and explains some of these abilities and demonstrates how you might improve your capacity to accept failure more effectively.
Here’s how we and a few business leaders think you can handle failure at work:
Accept your feelings and embrace them
It’s OK to experience grief and sadness straight away after failing. You may probably experience a range of feelings, including fear, grief, shame, rage, and guilt, to mention a few.
Although these emotions are unpleasant, you should give yourself a while to experience them.
You should name your feelings instead of always dwelling on your failure and letting them sink in rather than attempting to push them all away.
Take Inspiration from Well-Known Failures
Sam Underwood, the owner of SEO Toolbelt states: “Who are some well-known people who inspire you? These could be sports stars, movie stars, public figures, or businesspeople.
Have you ever heard of someone who endured several setbacks to become stronger and better due to their experiences? If not, then look at their early challenges and catastrophic failures they had, as well as how they handled such circumstances.
There are plenty of well-known failures; from Henry Ford to Michael Jordan, Thomas Edison to Walt Disney, you’ll find that several failures precede every spectacular triumph.
Although they may have originally been demoralized, they soon recovered and carved out a space for themselves.
You may pick up some of their techniques for turning a challenge into an opportunity and put them into practice.”
Use no excuses for failure
Failures act as a mirror through which you may see your deficiencies. You cannot rationalize your errors with a never-ending list of ridiculous excuses.
Blaming other people or external factors makes you seem ungrateful and undermines your credibility. The best approach to handling failures is to be open and honest about your errors and use what you learned from them to do better moving forward.
Such a pragmatic attitude also presents you well, demonstrating that you are a committed professional who accepts responsibility.
Avoid taking things personally
The fact that some people’s identities are entwined with success is one reason why failure may be terrible to them.
In other words, rather than seeing a setback when they fail, they regard themselves as having failed. Try not to take failure or success personally; rather, think of them as something you go through. It doesn’t alter who “you” really are.
This reinforces Kipling’s notion that success and failure are not inherent aspects of who you are. You shouldn’t let the phrase “I am a success” or “I am a failure” define you.
Do not be concerned about what others may think
Saj Munir, the owner of Chorlton Fireworks recommends focusing on yourself instead of the opinions of others.
He shares: “Our perceptions of success and failure may sometimes be influenced by what we believe others will think of us or how we believe they will perceive us.
You’ll never be able to influence what other people believe. You should never act in a way that will make other people happy.
If you define success and failure according to your own standards and act on your own motivation rather than that of others, it is simpler to accept both outcomes.”
Embrace accountability
Failures might be the consequence of a miscalculation, error, or misdirection. You must be aware of the results of your acts and take care not to repeat them. Additionally, it could be beneficial to remind oneself that errors are common.
Consider the scenario where you get an email confirmation with the time and date of your licensing test appointment. Instead of writing down the appointment on your phone or calendar, you made the decision to trust your memory.
You then arrived an hour late for the appointment. Recognize that relying only on your memory was a bad idea and resolve to note all appointments going forward.
Try not to define yourself by your flaws
Carl Jensen, the owner of Compare Banks states: “Being unsuccessful personally or professionally is a setback, but it’s crucial to keep in mind that you are not defined by your failures.
To avoid seeing these failures as assertions about yourself personally, it may be helpful to distance yourself from them.
Additionally, you may retrain your thinking by constantly reminding yourself that successful individuals throughout history have overcome their errors.”
Utilize negative feelings for productivity
Failures often result in unpleasant emotions like self-pity. It may be tempting to wallow in these feelings when they arise, but it’s important to constantly remind yourself that there are other ways to handle the situation.
Manage these feelings and direct them towards activities that will produce more. Consider proactively identifying other constructive endeavors and developing action plans for them.
For instance, you may use negative exam results as motivation to study for the next time you take the test.
Seek the advice of friends or a professional
Isla Sibanda, owner of Privacy Australia shares: “If everything else fails, speak with your therapist. A therapist could provide practical advice on dealing with failure at work since they are professionals in their industry.
You may speak with your coworkers and team members as well. Pay attention to their stories and learn from how they overcame comparable setbacks.
Failures at work may cause stress and worry, which can be harmful to workers’ mental and physical health. If one wants to remain optimistic and successful, one should endeavor to learn from and manage professional mistakes.”
