Here's how you can recover from a career setback with effectiveness.

How to Recover from a Career Setback Effectively: - Understand the root cause and lessons. - Gain insights from trusted peers and mentors. - Focus on clear, achievable targets. - View setbacks as growth opportunities. - Connect with professionals for support and guidance.

It is easy to go into victim mode and ask "why did this happen to me?" We've all been there. What is more productive is to ask "what is this situation trying to teach me?" Perhaps you were in the wrong job, wrong company, wrong profession? Perhaps you were simply up against powerful opposition where you never had a chance. Perhaps you really did put your foot in it and will have to take that on the chin and do better next time. Blame achieves nothing, self-loathing achieves nothing. Go with the facts such as you know them and make a plan to move on to something better. A setback can catapult you into a better situation.

Several years ago, I had to leave my organisation for about a year, due to a severe illness. Everything was going great, I was moving up the chain and thought I had it all figured out. When I came back, not only my department had changed, but I had changed a lot personally. I used this to have an open conversation with my boss, to discuss options. When he suggested a new team for me, I found that very uncomfortable at first. But then, I saw the advantages that it would bring me. I dove in head first, and tried to see opportunities rather then threats. It worked out fine, and it gave me much more energy than if I would have fought him in staying.

It is always a good idea to hear other people's perspective. You may not like what they tell you, but you should be looking for trends and patterns. When you get the same kind of feedback all the time, it is likely pointing in the right direction. Take any criticism of you as feedback on your performance, not on you as a person. This is not easy, but worth it.

Armed with your knowledge from you own assessment and that of others you can decide what to do next. Remember there is no shame in acknowledging that what you thought was the right job or career move turned out not to be so. I think most people finish their career in a different place to where they started it. What you thought was great in your 20s would have changed in your 40s etc. Come off the fence. Decide what you want to do next and take steps, small or big, that will take you in the desired direction.

Learning is a process. Fall in love with the process. When you feel utterly frustrated, remember that frustration is part of the learning process. It is normal, so stick with the learning process. None of us will ever be the finished article. There is always something to learn.

I always try to help people I have met along the career journey when they are seeking new horizons, voluntarily or not. I also try to be authentic and ask for help from those I think can help me in a situation. I think helping other when you can ensures that others will help you when they can. It's that simple and that hard at the same time. Building a true network takes time but can pay off not just in good times but also in bad. Sometimes the person you know is not the one, but someone they know is the one. Paraphrasing Mark Granovetter- don't underestimate the "strength of weak ties" when it comes to your career moves.

Business is not about business. It is about relationships. Look at your career as relationship building. The more people you know, the more people you have treated well, the more people will do what they can to help you and offer opportunities. You have lots to offer so let people know you are around and always be willing to help others.