How can you stay positive when facing career setbacks?

Agree with the above… most of us have had setbacks in our life and in our careers. The important part is: 1) in most cases it’s not personal though it may feel like it that point.. 2) take time to reflect the circumstances AFTER the emotion is gone… you will see it clearer 3) allow time to pass, as difficult as it may seem, BEFORE reacting 4) you are not alone

I agree with the above, it is super important to recognise how you are feeling so that you can process it and move forwards. Once, I didn’t get the promotion I had gone for and was devastated - I spoke to my mentor about it and she said something that has stuck with me…‘what’s for you won’t pass you by’ - sure enough a couple of weeks later I was offered a super exciting role internally that gave me the opportunity to broaden my experience and develop in areas that I hadn’t had the chance to before!

Staying positive requires staying grounded in gratitude. You must be grateful for all you have learned, the relationships you have made, and the expertise you can now use to continue moving forward. If you need a boost, you can also list out all of your strengths and past accomplishments. Refine your resume and Linkedin when you come up with some amazing new transferrable skills and successes.

I would say - time is your friend. The first step is to acknowledge you in the situation - be aware and own your contribution. If the situation you find yourself in is one that you cannot influence and one that makes you feel less than - then it's incumbent upon you to decide if this is where you thrive or where you decide you have the power to affect a change. We all have options - some may not appeal to your ambitions - but the door is never closed to you. As my Mom always says - this too shall pass Take The lesson and move On ...and use Your power for good.

In my experience taking a step back to reevaluate gives you perspective and helps clear the fog so you can make better decisions on next steps. A setback in your career does not necessarily have to be a failure it can also be a redirection and with clarity of mind one can weigh the pros and cons before taking the next leap.

I have a Reframing Negative Self Talk image, that was illustrated by Brianna Viera, that I reference when the Negative Self Talk begins (and unfortunately there is a bit of that). Unfortunately, I can't paste it in here, but it has become a key tool in me moving from the negative to the positive language. An example is "I should be further along in my life/career now", becoming "I am on my own journey, what can I do to move closer to my goals" You can't control decisions around you, but you can control your thoughts and outputs.

It’s easier said than done. But the best path is yet to come. That one just wasn’t meant for you. Learning how to pivot is a skill that is very well underutilized. It’s good to have a grand plan, but it’s even better to have smaller scale plans and goals.

Water runs down stream as it follows the easiest path. Thoughts are the same - Give one the push downstream and watch the Momentum It gains. Negativity is the gift that keeps on giving and follows the path of least resistance. It is a yeoman's work to push that boulder up stream to stay positive. Negative thinking is easy - staying positive requires faith energy dedication commitment and love. Think how much effort goes into connection when we could all be nice and letting it flow - As it's supposed to be.

When you speak to people, trying to make new connections and expanding your reach helps you discover new opportunities. It also gives a peek into what we lack regarding skill, experience, or just updated knowledge in our field. This can give way to new learnings. So, a career setback could be a turning point too!

Reframing has been vital in overcoming obstacles and adversity for me. However, sometimes I needed help with someone outside of my situation to assist me in the reframe. A life coach, therapist, a trusted spiritual advisor can be great sources to help you reframe your perspective if you’re struggling to reframe on your own.

What helps is getting down to what you want to achieve. Make a list of simple achievable goals. Write down steps that will help you get closer to them.

Taking action and making a plan of action to achieve your goals helps. Recently when I faced a career setback 2 years ago, I quickly updated my resume, started working on competitive programming, started reading about System designing and other concepts which are must-have for clearing any Software Engineering interview, and landed a perfect job within 2 months. 2 years down the line, facing another setback and my plan of action this time is also already ready :D

You will only be able to take action towards the goals you've set for yourself if you remember that confidence is a by product of doing something new not a pre-requisite. So take action and take that next step even if it feels messy and you don't feel confidnet. Find the courage to do it. And remember courage moving forward inspite of the fear you face so be courageous and take that next step.

I make a "to do list" that I try to get through every day. This list is typically done at the start of the day before the madness has begun, allowing me a clear mind to decide what is important to do in that day. While some of the items are BAU, others are linked to the bigger outcome I am striving for. Do I get through it every day? Definitely not, but the practice does remind me of the bigger goals I am trying to achieve.

Know who is your fan club! Make a list of your supporters--your ex-colleagues, team members and people who have seen you in action. Now is the best time to contact them and seeking help.

Oh man, this one is SO important! Over my career there have been moments, where people supported and guided me, adding immense value to my journey at that point in time, however, to be honest, I am still on the journey of finding a mentor I truly resonate with. When times are tough, you need that person you can default back to. Importantly they will be able to listen and either affirm your thoughts or just as importantly propose alternate thinking. You need support from people who have "been there and done that" no matter how much experience you have in your field.

This could be a great time to pick up a new hobby or where you left off something you are passionate about. Waiting on end for newer opportunities can be trying. A constructive distraction could prove to be fruitful. Amongst other things, social work can be very satisfying and great utilization of time. It teaches you a thing or two and is also great to gather volunteering experience.

This is a real challenge for me, as I tend to build a work bubble around myself when things are tough, which is the worst thing to do. I am working on hard on trying to find the time to look after me, whether that is taking lunch and stepping away from my desk or finishing a day a little earlier to spend some time on the side of a field watching my children play sports. You can only give what you have left to give, make sure you top it, is what I was told......this one is a WIP

By being open to change and willing to adapt, I’ve not only overcome obstacles but also discovered new passions and directions in my career. It’s amazing how much personal and professional growth can come from embracing the unexpected. So, my advice is to stay open-minded, welcome change, and trust that it can lead you to exciting new opportunities.

One thing which I strongly believe is that the focus should be redirected to things that you can control. It is crucial to identify aspects of your career that you have control over and concentrate your energy there. This may include updating skills, or upping your network game, or exploring other opportunities and avenues.

Staying positive is a choice! After a blindside job loss, I turned to the power of positivity and gratitude as the only options I would choose. The guidance, direction, people, relationships and support that came with that decision fell naturally and organically into place.

Stock take your career to date. Make a list of things you've loved, hated and tolerated in your career so far. When you're ready to take that next career step try to see if in your next role you can do more of the things you Love and less of the things you hate. This will give you a lot more satisfaction and joy in your career.

Ultimately this is the sort of situation that always offers lots of advice and rarely do you get the support and action that you want/need. Everyone has a unique set of circumstances and all you need to do is work out what is best for you be that short medium or long term. And then aim for the fences. Life is too short

It could depend on how bad your setback is. A missed promotion or loss of job leading to potential loss of home? The disappointment of the former will fade pretty quickly if you have meaningful challenges in your work. If you don’t, then you’ve at least got time to look for something more interesting. The crisis of the latter means you must get moving. There will be feel-good experiences along the way - sorting out your CV, support from your network, getting an interview. They all buoy you up and will armour you against difficult moments. But keeping active will keep you positive.