How can you build resilience and stay motivated in the face of career setbacks?

Navigating career setbacks can be challenging, and the accompanying emotional turbulence can feel quite intense. To prevent being overwhelmed by these emotions, it's crucial for individuals to be candid about their feelings. Take the time to accurately identify and articulate each emotion, understanding the reasons behind them. While it might seem like a futile exercise, this practice proves beneficial in coming to terms with setbacks, gaining insights into your emotional responses, and setting the groundwork for recovery through honest and constructive addressing of these feelings.

Feel the disappointment or frustration, but as soon as you’re able to, ask yourself: - What are your main strengths and weaknesses? - Were you hoping to get the skills you desire via your new position? - What can you do to actively build the skills you want? - Who can help you develop these skills, or provide valuable pointers? - If you must change your job, how can you shift your focus within your current role to allow you time to recover from setbacks and move forward in a proactive way? - What actions can you start taking to demonstrate to others that you're a good investment? Working through these questions honestly will not only help you recover from setbacks, but will also set you on a path to positive growth in your career.

One needs to come to grips with the negative emotions that goes with the career setback. Firstly, recognize the negative emotions but don't dwell in them. Learn from the career setback by understanding the reason(s) for the setback to occur. Secondly, find an outlet by talking to a mentor or close friend and jot down the learnings from the situation.

In order to have the tenacity to face the setback, you need to reframe your mindset by recognizing the lessons to learn from the setback and not dwell on it in agony or a depressed state. You need to sort out your thinking by adopting positive mindset when you manage to learn from the setback. By focusing on the positives and consciously seek to avoid and overcome the obstacles or pitfalls identified in the setback, you can be successful in your next career venture.

To learn fast from career setback and plan for success, it is always useful to seek the assistance and guidance from mentors, seniors, coaches by taping on their past experiences. With their suggestions, guidance, feedback, you can learn to better manage your next career venture in order to avoid any further setback to come. When you receive feedback, you can assess according to your context/ situation to determine suitability and appropriateness of advice before adopting it as likely solutions/ techniques to overcome similar obstacles/ pitfalls identified especially when it occur again in your next career venture.

The key is not to be isolated when you face career setbacks. There should be support network from both supervisors and peers, and it is good to invest in building these relationships during normal circumstances, so that they can give the proper support in tougher times. It is also good to ask for constructive and objective feedback as they will provide diverse points of view from yours. Learn from the setbacks and grow more resilient and wiser, making you more equipped the next time you face adversity.

Resist letting a setback define you or overshadow your achievements. Recognize that careers are influenced by various factors. One setback isn't terminal, just as success isn't permanent. Use setbacks as learning opportunities. While coping, explore new possibilities, identify your next steps, and create a plan. Also, connect with individuals or networks for guidance. Don't dwell on setbacks—take charge, proactively pursue your goals, and move forward constructively.

Learning from your career setback and not allowing it to hold you back from the next career venture, you can set new real realistic goals to give yourself an impetus to move forward. Ensure that the new goal(s) you set are realistic, specific, achievable small wins so that you are motivated to work towards them, bearing in mind any lessons/ techniques you have learnt from your setback. With realistic small wins, you can gradually be motivated to move forward positively rather than aiming for big (harder to attain) wins.

Nothing good will happen when you wallow in self-pity, it is a 100% fail rate. Instead, take actionable measures to address the factors and issues pertaining to the setback. Set goals in the SMART framework, and request for accountability and support as you go forth to achieve your goals. This is how you give yourself every chance to get out of the setback.

Learn to channel the negative emotions to external outlet(s) and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Only when you are healthy, you can continue to work well in your next career venture. No point draining yourself in sorrow but move on by focusing on good pursuits like exercises, adequate sleep, maintain a healthy diet, engage in joyful activities, relax... and deliberately avoid bad sentiments which would drain your energy in a counterproductive manner. Save your energy for the next successful venture when you are better prepared by learning effectively from this setback.

Take a thoughtful pause to assess your career journey and delve into the factors surrounding the setback. Reflect on the alignment of your career choices with your values, motivations, and an honest evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses. Engage in a constructive self-inquiry, questioning what alterations you might have made if given the chance to revisit your career decisions. This introspective exercise serves to clarify your career goals and refines your focus, empowering you to make informed decisions regarding your next career move.