October 19, 2001

Job setbacks opportunity to re-examine goals

DENVER — It’s hard to avoid the occasional letdown as you climb your way up the corporate ladder. But employment expert Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of “Managing Your Career for Dummies,” points out that there are steps you can take to ease emotional stress and quickly get you career back on track. In fact, you may even benefit in the long run, he said.

“Most successful businesspeople have run into their fair share of obstacles,” Messmer said. “The key is that they’ve turned those experiences into learning opportunities.”

Messmer offers the following suggestions for turning a step back into a step forward.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Solar Operations and Maintenance for Commercial Properties

One key qualification to consider when selecting a solar partner to install your system is whether they have an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) or service department. Since solar is a long-term asset with an expected lifecycle of 30 plus years, ongoing O&M should be considered up front. A trusted O&M partner will maximize your system’s energy output and therefor the return on your investment.

* Take time to recover. Allow yourself time to deal with the emotional response you may feel — such as anger or disappointment — before making your next move.

* Reflect on the situation. Ask yourself questions about what happened, such as “What external factors impacted the outcome?” and “What could I have done differently?”

* Don’t take it personally. Remember that failure is situational — while you may fail in your attempts to accomplish a particular goal, you are not a failure

* Look for the silver lining. You’ve probably heard the paradox that success includes failure. Although your tendency may be to dwell on what you’ve lost or given up, focus your thoughts on what you might be able to gain. For example, if you’ve been laid off from a job, take the opportunity to re-examine your career goals.

* Learn from your mistakes. Enduring a setback can enhance your sense of self-awareness and help you understand your limitations. The next time you find yourself in a similar situation, put your newfound knowledge to use.

“Whether it’s a major hurdle or a minor bump in the road, a career setback can cause even the most seasoned professional to feel self-doubt and frustration,´ said Chris Fisher, Accountemps regional manager. “However, by learning to make themselves more resilient, workers can shift their focus from what went wrong to what they can do to move ahead.”

DENVER — It’s hard to avoid the occasional letdown as you climb your way up the corporate ladder. But employment expert Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of “Managing Your Career for Dummies,” points out that there are steps you can take to ease emotional stress and quickly get you career back on track. In fact, you may even benefit in the long run, he said.

“Most successful businesspeople have run into their fair share of obstacles,” Messmer said. “The key is that they’ve turned those experiences into learning opportunities.”

Messmer offers the following suggestions for turning a step…

Categories:
Sign up for BizWest Daily Alerts