How do you inspire motivation in your team after a major project setback?

It is very easy to say that 'failures are lessons' and we should not get disappointed etc etc., however, in practise it's a tough job! particularly for leaders. Speaking for myself as soon as I face any setback I try to first find out the cause at macro and micro level. Was it human error or systemic failure or something else? Unless we go to the root we cannot find solution. And I do it very objectively! most importantly I encourage and make each and every member of my team speak their versions for setback and also seek their opinion on how to avoid any future setback. Open discussion without any prejudice or bias or emotional outburst is the key to face any setback.

Acknowledge, Accept and Love Our greatest place for growth comes from the lessons of a set back and when we don't Acknowledge the set back for what it was then we have taken the opportunity to be better tomorrow away from our team. Acknowledge the experience, the feelings and stories that are coming up from it with your team without placing judgements on it. Next is to Accept that it happened, and not make it any better or worse then it really was. This is where extreme ownership and candor live and not making anyone wrong, including ourselves. Debriefing the situation and accepting our role is not about shame and blame. This is an opportunity to currate a brave space within your team.

Tactical Empathy is crucial. Acknowledge and validate your team's feelings openly. Say something like, 'I can see that this setback is frustrating for everyone. It's understandable to feel this way after all the hard work we've put in.' This builds trust and shows you genuinely understand their emotional state.

Setbacks happen. Don't let that be the end. If the project, initiative, sale, etc. can be saved, consider that a win. If not, create the win by looking at how what you have done together can be applied to the next project, initiative, sale. Take the education the setback created and don't just wait for...look for the opportunity for this team to create a new win.

"I know this setback is disappointing and frustrating for everyone. Our hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed, and I understand how we feel. Just take a moment to acknowledge these emotions. By supporting each other and focusing on finding solutions, we can overcome this challenge together. Our goal is to move forward with a positive mindset and tackle the issues at hand effectively."

There are only 2 things that are in our control, our effort and our attitude. All that we can do is try to work hard and stay positive. Set backs will happen but so will unexpected leaps forward. It is important to just focus on the things that we can control.

It is essential to have session to highlight the lessons learnt as well as to identify the exact root causes for the issues, collectively as a team. During this collaborative exercise it’s important to listen to the solutions and reasoning put forth by the team members, and agree on the revised project execution approach going forward. That ways it instills confidence amongst team members that all the issue scenarios has now been plugged in, and they will feel prepared for facing similar challenges in the near future.

In my experience, after recognizing the team's emotions, it's essential to guide them in reframing their perspective on the setback. Encourage them to view challenges as opportunities for growth and learning. Discussing what can be gleaned from the experience and how it can strengthen the team's future performance is crucial. By shifting the focus from what went wrong to what can be improved, you instill a sense of purpose and direct energy toward constructive efforts. This positive outlook is infectious and can significantly boost team motivation, fostering a resilient and forward-thinking team culture.

Set backs and especially major set backs are generally a test of team leader and members. A test of their skills, knowledge and execution of the knowledge. A good leader must keep his eyes open because he is the one who will be responsible for every set back. Setbacks are part of game as success is. Whenever a team face setbacks stay with your team. Don't blame them for the failure. Try to analyse situation from scratch the more micro analysis you will do the more better and clear situation will be . Once analysis is done then re frame your attention towards where the things went wrong and how could be they rectify. Stay together and work together.

I have found that it is important to remind the team that all projects are ultimately comprised of many individual tasks and contributions. While stumbling on one of these steps can be a temporary setback, it rarely defines the long-term success of the overall project, and it is often possible to reframe setbacks as learning opportunities. Depending on the individual personalities and situations involved, it can also be helpful to provide examples of challenges that I have personally overcome, or in some cases, to introduce some work-appropriate humor.

In my experience, one effective way to rebuild momentum after a setback is to set new, realistic goals that are attainable. Break down the path to recovery into manageable steps that your team can confidently achieve. Celebrate small victories along the way to keep spirits high and maintain motivation. This strategy not only keeps the team focused but also provides a clear roadmap for success. As each goal is met, the sense of accomplishment will fuel the drive to tackle bigger challenges, gradually restoring confidence and ensuring sustained progress toward the project's ultimate objectives.

Ich wende idealerweise die SMART Methode an und zwar sind das: Spezifisch, messbar, attraktiv, realistisch und messbare Ziele

I totally agree with this. Once my team faced a setback that shook our momentum. To regain our stride, we focused on setting realistic, achievable goals. Breaking down our path to recovery into manageable steps not only kept us focused but also boosted our confidence. Celebrating each small victory along the way kept our spirits high and maintained our motivation. It's incredible how accomplishing these goals fueled our determination to tackle bigger challenges ahead. Remember, setting realistic goals isn't just about progress—it's about creating a clear roadmap to success.

I use the smart method; S specific M measurable A actionable R realistic T time-based To create steps that will ensure success.

Em minha experiência, há diversos tipos de estabelecimento de metas que dependendo da forma como s?o estabelecidas podem gerar retornos distintos. Esta diversifica??o de retornos, pode ter seu fato gerador na concep??o da mesma, no desafio estabelecido, na forma de acompanhamento e nas a??es derivadas dos resultados alcan?ados. Claro está que pontos de controle devem ser estabelecidos, uma revis?o deve ser implementada quando necessária, assim como celebra??es n?o podem ser esquecidas.

We need to take lesson from our failures and convert it as success and do a research which areas we fail, identify pain areas and work on those.

In my experience, it's essential to offer unwavering support and resources to your team during the recovery phase. Be present, approachable, and ready to assist with any challenges that arise. Offer guidance and mentorship while encouraging collaboration and open communication among team members. This support system reinforces the notion that they are not alone in facing the setback and that they have the backing needed to overcome it. A supported team is an empowered team, which enhances their ability to navigate difficulties and emerge stronger, fostering a resilient and cohesive work environment.

A major project setback can be quite the demotivator in a team. The most important thing is to acknowledge the team members and listen to them in a debriefing session with someone taking notes and eventually come up with challenges that were faced and also mitigation measures for the future projects. It is important to encourage team members and not load them with negative conversations. In fact, as the team leader, it would be good to let the team know that you will bear the burden of the loss but at the same time encouraging them that there is hope for future projects.

Part of leading others is to provide support and encouragement especially during stressful situations. Verbal and written communication is vital since everyone deals with situations in their own time and manner. Be consistent, be real, be patient and listen carefully. People need to know that they are heard and remain valued.

Show up, listen and offer guidance. Ensure the communication lines are open and there is clear understanding of what is expected of each team member. Encourage contributions from the team.

Motivation flourishes when team members take ownership of their work and the solutions to overcome setbacks. Involve them in decision-making and problem-solving processes, allowing them to contribute their ideas and expertise. This sense of ownership fosters a proactive attitude and a vested interest in the project's success

In my experience, motivation flourishes when team members take ownership of their work and the solutions to overcome setbacks. Involve them in decision-making and problem-solving processes, allowing them to contribute their ideas and expertise. This sense of ownership fosters a proactive attitude and a vested interest in the project's success. When team members feel responsible for outcomes, they are more motivated to put forth their best efforts, leading to innovative solutions and a collaborative spirit. Empowering them in this way not only enhances individual growth but also strengthens team cohesion and overall project resilience.

I strongly agree. Be 100% into your actions then no regrets in your personal as well as professional life This will inspire you always

Implement the Accusation Audit technique. Address any doubts head-on by saying, 'You might think that taking ownership of this project after a setback is too challenging, but I believe in our ability to turn this around together.' This preemptively addresses concerns and empowers the team to take charge.

In Turkey, there's a saying: "No one can do your job like you." But the truth is, they can—if you cultivate a sense of ownership among your employees and stakeholders. Large projects and the inherent challenges of long-term endeavors often strain our motivation and morale. In such times, a strong sense of ownership is essential. However, this ownership doesn't come from words alone; it needs active participation. Stakeholders must be involved in decision-making, problem-solving, and discussions, contributing directly to the process. Consider the most successful teams in business or sports. What sets them apart? A profound sense of ownership. This shared commitment drives their exceptional performance and resilience.

Celebrar as conquistas deve ser uma prática, n?o apenas em nossos times, porém em toda nossa vida. Apenas nós sabemos o que tivemos que passar para atingir nossos objetivos e todos obstáculos conseguimos ultrapassar para atingir estes objetivos, portanto devemos celebrar cada vitória conquistada e nos concentrar para a próxima. N?o podemos deixar que as vitórias subam a cabe?a, nem que as derrotas sejam esquecidas, porém vamos celebrar sempre e em todo o momento, tornando-os únicos e memoráveis.

Celebrate progress by recognizing milestones, both big and small. Offer praise and rewards for achievements, highlight team and individual contributions, and hold regular check-ins to review successes. This boosts morale and reinforces a positive team culture.

Recognizing small wins can help mark progress for the team and raise their spirits. Celebrating project milestones as a team can not only boost morale, but also gives the team a sense of traction against their goals and feelings of optimism.

Normalize the setback. They are part of the process and how we learn. There is always a lesson and if missed then the opportunity to grow may be missed or delayed. I have found that my greatest times of growth come through hardships and trials. There is value in every success and failure. Reflect, stay calm and look for the lesson. This is part of the process and although uncomfortable, a great opportunity will arise.

Setbacks are an expected part of business. They can take many different forms. The innovation can fail, funding may be pulled depending on the strength of competitive projects, external M&A, change in company strategy or changing external factors (geopolitical, climate etc). This can be demoralizing to the team. It is important to frame the reason for the setback clearly and reframe the values derived from the project. The team will often go all in emotionallyin the process of creating a project and so the setback feels very personal. However there is value derived in the skills learned or developed. The learnings and the culture you have built are values that the team can carry away despite the setback.

I’ve always found after action reviews, or a simpler version such as a pros and cons after a setback achieves multiple goals. The first goal these sort of open forum discussions achieve is acknowledging how everyone on the team feels about the setback. From there it’s easier to move onto why the team thinks the setback happened, this also gets everyone’s perspective of the setback on the table. Then we can all discuss the positive aspects of the project/work itself. Once all three of those items have been discussed I believe and from experience know that figuring out a solution to mitigate the same setback from happening again is achievable. By including everyone on the team it allows everyone to take ownership as well.

An example I’ve seen is always having a lessons learned session after any project, especially after a setback. It brings all the groups together to assess and examine the results, make adjustments, and form strategies to help avoid future setbacks. It is a great tool for project evaluations and the promotion of future successes.

It’s simple. The team should know that any experience, even negative, is also a useful experience. They learn from mistakes, especially from their own. Of course, it is important to understand the causes of failure and identify errors!