6 Ways To Recover And Rebuild After A Career Fail

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Personal Development, Leading & Managing Section | 2

6 Ways To Recover And Rebuild After A Career Fail

By Tracy Brower | Forbes Magazine | June 11, 2024

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Chances are you’ve had a setback in your career at some point, because few people get through their career unscathed. The experience can be gut-wrenching and it can be tough to know where to turn or how to recover.  But whether you’ve been treated unfairly, survived a toxic experience or made your own terrible misstep, you can rebound, repair and rebuild for a brilliant future.

1. Reflect.  Consider what went wrong, and focus on the factors that were within your control. Give thought to what you could have done differently. Even if it feels like you got a raw deal, lean into the learning you can take away. Remind yourself about your strengths. Make plans to develop new skills or enhance places you might be weak.  In addition, take stock of your priorities—and what’s most important to you both personally and professionally. A bump in the road of your career can be a chance to redirect your path.
2. Connect.  Confide in a close friend or colleague, sharing your concerns. You’ll open the door for them to be transparent as well. And bonding happens when we go through hard times—so you will likely deepen your relationship, just when you most need support and compassion most.  Also reach out to your people. Finding your next opportunity will depend on the strength of your network, so let people know you’re on the market and what kind of work you’ll be looking for.
3. Stay Optimistic.  You don’t want to delude yourself or engage in toxic positivity, but staying optimistic is tremendously healthy. When you are able to accept failure and see it in a positive light, you’re more likely to maintain your happiness and motivation.
4. Be Constructive.  To be your best and demonstrate a constructive response. You’ll likely want to vent with a close friend or family member—but then be sure you’re managing your emotional responses. The ability to self-regulate is a signal of maturity.  Ironically, difficult situations can be important moments to build your credibility. Other people will see that you’re maintaining a positive attitude despite poor treatment, or they’ll notice you’re sustaining momentum despite negative situations.  You can be authentic about what you’re going through, but also demonstrate grit, perseverance, a mindset of growth and a proactive stance. All of these will speak volumes about your strength and your character.
5. Take Action.  Also know that failure can actually lead to greater success. Learning, trying again, sticking with it and building your resilience works for your future achievements. Repeated effort really does result in positive outcomes.  Ultimately, when you’re able to keep going and persist—when you persevere—you’ll get to your next career opportunity, and also enhance your mental health.
6. Move On.  One of the most difficult elements of rebuilding is to let go and move on. You may feel ashamed of your own failure, disoriented by a wrong path—or you may feel angry about what happened. But you’ll be more likely to succeed when you can acknowledge the issues, take a deep breath and keep moving forward.  Even if you can’t forgive colleagues, leaders or the company—or even when it’s difficult to forgive yourself—focus on letting go of the weight of your frustrations so you can take positive action.  Know that setbacks are part of life—and if you’re not failing sometimes, you’re probably not stretching enough.

2 key takeaways from the article

1. Chances are you’ve had a setback in your career at some point, because few people get through their career unscathed. The experience can be gut-wrenching and it can be tough to know where to turn or how to recover.  But whether you’ve been treated unfairly, you weren’t at your best, survived a toxic experience or made your own terrible misstep, you can rebound, repair and rebuild for a brilliant future.
2. The following can help to recover:  Reflect on what went wrong, and focus on the factors that were within your control, confide in a close friend or colleague and share your concerns, stay optimistic, be constructive to demonstrate your best, take actions and move on.

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Topics:  Personal Developmnet, Career Development, Leadership, Failure