VIEWPOINT
Let not setbacks make you sit back, just move ahead
We have all heard of the often used saying that failures are the stepping stones to success, yet how many of us when faced with failures have the courage to accept them and move ahead in life? Whether it is failing to get a coveted job or a lost promotion or even a raise, we are immediately disappointed and rue the failure and worse may consider ourselves as failures. This attitude to failure affects our motivation levels and our ability to take progressive steps in life.
This is because we view everything in relation to our failures. This can change only if we change our attitude to failure. Here are some pointers to help you:
Part of learning process: Take the example of a child learning to walk, he trips many times but this is not viewed as a failure but as an inevitable part of learning to do something new. Similarly, one should also view failures as less
ons to be learnt on the way to some achievement. It is an opportunity to improve because setbacks will show the mistakes one makes and the areas that need improvement so that one can overcome them. Failures should be treated as part of the learning process.
Urealistic expectations: Most of us set unrealistic expectations for ourselves especially when trying out something new and when we are unable to meet these expectations we are disappointed. Leaders expect their grandiose plans to succ
eed, companies expect their new products to make profits immediately and when these plans fail, there is a sense of failure. To avoid this, new ventures can be begun with optimism but has to be tempered with realism. There should be some anticipation about the problems one may encounter at the initial stages so that one can face setbacks. Reassure yourself and also others especially customers that you have the solutions for these possible problems. This will prevent you and also others from presuming that you have failed when setbacks do happen.
Do not aim for perfection: When one constantly strives for perfection, one misses out on experimentation and innovation because one is afraid that this will come in the way of perfection. One could be missing out on success because the
se experiments could lead one there. This will also inhibit us from taking bold decisive actions or doing what comes naturally to us because we are afraid it may not be perfect. The point here is one should not aim for perfection but take bold initiatives that will help in achieving one’s goals. Even if we meet with failures mid-way, we can still set them right instead of hesitating to take any action just because we feel it may not be perfect. One can aim for perfection but expecting it at every turn may be unrealistic. Failures need to be accepted as part of the quest for perfection.
Fear of failure: We are afraid of failures because we are apprehensive of the consequences such failures may bring. We have to overcome this fear. We will have to tell ourselves that it is not the end of the world. A failed job intervi
ew does not mean you will ever get a job, or a fruitless sales call does not mean your boss will fire you; and even getting fired may not be that bad, you could always get another job. It is important that we do not succumb to this fear of failure but take them in our stride and learn to move on.
Do not imagine things: Very often we imagine ourselves caught in a hopeless position or being a failure in a meeting, a presentation and we even imagine what the consequences of our failures could be. We let our imagination run wild an
d think of really bad scenarios. At such times we need to get back to the present, assess the situation and realise that things are not that bad after all.
The fear of failure should not hold you back from pursuing your dreams, aspirations and goals. Remember failures help you discover your drawbacks, help you improve on your attempts at success and teach you the valuable lesson on what not to do. As Winston Churchill said, “Success consists of going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.”
HEMA. G
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