How to turn disappointments at work into a powerful way forward

How do we turn disappointments in your business and leadership into a profound path forward that will lead us to future wins?

We’ve all felt it. The time when our customer didn’t come on board.

That moment where our idea fell flat in the boardroom and ultimately was glossed over.

That moment when our proposal wasn’t accepted.

That time when our manager didn’t seek our input on an important direction, when you felt you had been integral up to that point.

Instead of going to down the path, which so often might occur, of spinning out in a spiral of feeling put down, de-motivated, which then can lead into, ‘am I cut out for this?’ or ‘why does this always happen to me’ I’d like to make another suggestion.

Establish your OWN markers for success.

I remember a time when I submitted a proposal that I was very excited about - although it was a last minute request and quite unexpected. I worked long and late for two days amidst a very full schedule of meetings. I was very motivated and excited about the proposal and I sent it off for review.

I received word a couple of days later that it wasn’t accepted and they decided to go into a different direction. I felt those all familiar feelings of disappointment and feeling completely deflated. With very little feedback from the client, I desperately wanted to know what could’ve been done differently or have an opportunity for further conversation. In this case, without going into too many details, this wasn’t possible.

It’s at that point when it occurred to me, they were only half the equation. I was giving away all my power waiting for someone else to tell me what I needed to know. AND, they weren’t going to give me what I wanted: more information or an indication of what could’ve been different.

I realized that it wasn’t going to change the outcome and I didn’t want to come away from this experience with such a deflated feeling.

This is where establishing your OWN markers for success can be your guide.

Have you ever lost your keys and you searched all around for them? Not turning to your own success markers is sort of like looking for your keys outside of your house, in your yard, on your front step and never inside your house.

Creating your own success markers helps you look inside your house every time; helping you find what you need much faster.

So here’s one way to create your personal success markers:

1) Check in on your personal guides:

Did you produce your work or act in accordance with your own values? Did you (honestly) give it your best shot? If the answer was no, in any of these questions, what could you have done differently to be able to answer yes?

2) Hone the power to grow:

Ask yourself, what am I missing in this situation? What am I not seeing? What did I learn or am I learning in this situation or because of this situation? (Part of this learning could even be that some decisions, in fact, have no bearing on you and your capabilities.)

3) Create your forward momentum:

How will I operate differently the next time this situation comes up or in general?

Building a strong framework and practice to turn inward - looking within your own house for guidance - will set you up for exponential personal and professional growth, which will lead to your future successes.

This is a way to create YOUR guiding practice to turn disappointments into a powerful way forward.

NOW is YOUR time.

Ariana

PS: This is a practice that so many of us can benefit from; consider sharing and forward this to at least one person who could benefit from this idea right now.