How to deal with Professional Set-Backs

Even a dramatic career failure can become a springboard to success if you respond in the right way.

Those who rebound from career losses take a decidedly different approach. Instead of getting stuck in grief or blame, they actively explore how they contributed to what went wrong, evaluate whether they sized up the situation correctly and reacted appropriately, and consider what they would do differently if given the chance. They also gather feedback from a wide variety of people (including superiors, peers, and subordinates), making it clear that they want honest feedback, not consolation.

Its important that you objectively weight the potential for turning your loss into a win, whether that’s a different role in your organization, a move to a new company, or a shift to a different industry or career.

Reframing losses as opportunities involves hard thinking about who you are and what you want. Escapism is a common reaction to career derailment people may take trips to get away from their troubles, immerse themselves in busywork eat excessively, or avoid discussing their thoughts and plans with family and friends. While these behaviors can give you mental space to sort things out, they rarely lead to a productive transition. It’s more effective to engage in a focused exploration of all the options available.

New opportunities don’t usually present themselves right away, of course, and it can be hard to spot them through the fog of anger and disappointment in the early days after a setback.

Seize the Right Opportunity

After you identify possible next steps, it’s time to pick one. Admittedly, this can be a little frightening, especially if you’re venturing into unknown career territory. Reimagining your professional identity is one thing; bringing it to life is another. Remember, though, that you haven’t left your skills and experience behind with your last job, and you’ll also bring with you the lessons learned from the setback. You may also have productively revised your definition of success.

Shifting perspective takes just as much energy as switching companies or jobs. We all know the importance of resilience and adaptability when it comes to career success. But these qualities don’t come easily or naturally to everyone, which is why it’s so useful to have clear steps to follow after a setback. The approach I have learned can help transform the anger and self-doubt associated with failure into excitement about new possibilities.

Never give up and wait for the right time...