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How do you deal with failure in a job?

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Dan’s Answer

Hi Ana,

This is a great question. I have always tried to use any failures or setbacks as opportunities to learn and for personal growth. Sometimes it is hard to remember that when one is going through it, but I feel that trying to keep a healthy perspective can do wonders.

Not getting the job I wanted, the promotion I wanted, or the amount of money I wanted are experiences I have had. I can say that my career overall has probably been better than I could have planned (over the last 14 plus years), and that every time a door closed, I was presented with another opportunity.

I think it is also a good idea to remember that some level of failure (either in professional or personal life) is part of the human condition. As long as an individual attempts to learn and/or grow from it, it really isn't a failure.

Thank you and have a great day,

Dan
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Jane’s Answer

Hi Ana!

Failure in the workplace can be really tough, and it can feel very hard to move past. One thing I've found helpful in working through any sort of "failure" or rough patch is having a strong ally. Whether that is a mentor, someone on your team, or even a previous manager, having someone you trust and respect to help you improve and to give you perspective is really important. Don't let a rough patch hold you back - you'll move past it and know how to confront these types of situations that much better in the future.

Jane
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Shamini’s Answer

Hi Ana!

Success is not final failure is not fatal..
What matters most is every time when you feel that you have failed - you have tried
That pride and never give up attitude will take you above all successes.

Best of Luck!
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Chaitra’s Answer

Failure at job is bad. Accepting it and trying to introspect as to why we failed is important. You cannot always succeed. Learning from failure will make you stronger.
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Deepak’s Answer

Generally people have a different point of view for failure. People look in a different angle when people fail. Failure is actually is an opportunity to learn, experience failure and move further being more enthusiastic because you know the causes of failure and you make less mistakes which leads you to success.
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Eugenia’s Answer

There are probably two main aspects to dealing with failure at job: 1) you should be able to differentiate failure from frustration and not give up just because you are tired; 2) you should not delay recognizing a failure as this will just cause you wasting your time and energy. So it's more or less like selling your assets at just the right time - not too early and not too late, while the prices are at the optimum. If you see that your model does not work or that you have made a mistake while performing your work, first of all think about what are the risks/consequences for the company and how they can be eliminated/fixed/repaired. Probably you need to move fast to do that. After you have made this analysis, you tell about the trouble and need of mitigation as soon as possible to your colleagues who might be impacted or have to be involved into repair works. And you need to give them all facts and your assessment of what should be done. It might be of course that you cannot assess the impact on your own - then you need to involve as soon as possible those who can do it. In most cases failures and mistakes at work are repairable or can be compensated by successful work on something else - like, you lost one deal but won another deal. Usually a failure is not the end of the world. It might be wise though to know beforehand which sorts of mistakes in your work are a no-no, or might put people at physical risk. Like, if you are a builder and your mistake might cause the building to fall apart with all the inhabitants inside. All other mistakes are happening from time to time to everyone, and as long as you are not causing additional damage by hiding facts but acting fast and efficient on correcting the wrong, you might even be seen by your management from a better side - as a person able to work under pressure and understanding the interests of the company.
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Ao’s Answer

Sometimes when you encounter failures in your work, there are times when you are confused; in fact, it is not terrible, and it means that you have a better awareness of living better. On the contrary, the most fearful thing is that everyone standing at the crossroads is indifferent to himself. Because I have been lost, I have to practice and explore even more. Just as when everyone enters the maze, everyone is worried. When Ken is willing to take the first step boldly, he will have a greater chance to go out. If he feels that he will do something, he will definitely fail.

There is a saying in China: the bridge is straight to the bow
Opportunity reserved for prepared people

Good Nice Day !
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Failure and success in a Job are two sides of the same coin. Success and Failure are results for the actions that you have taken. When Failure is in your sight first thing you need to take charge is your emotions .Quicker the better. Accept it and take a deep breath and make a quick analysis of the possible root cause of failure. If you can find it fine if not reach out to your trusted Peers or your Mentors. Forget the failure quickly and Implement the action plan. If you are not failing then you are not doing something. "Learn the to Do’s and unlearn the Don’t."
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Julia’s Answer



1.) If you tend to take things personal, give yourself some time to get past that and then look at the facts neutrally when you are ready. What went wrong? How could it have been better? How could YOUR actions have made it better? What will you do differently in the future?

2.) Communicate your learnings and future plan of action to the boss or whomever needs to hear it

3.) Move on. Seriously, learn from it, but don't get hung up on it.


I hope for you that you will get lots of constructive feedback early on in your career, so that you will learn how to deal with it (not as a personal attack) and see it as a way as improvement. As a matter of fact, I would advise that you frequently ask: 'What could I have done better'.
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Vineeth’s Answer


Facing failures at the workplace is normal. But what matters the most is the ability to deal with the stress in the most civilized manner.

• Build Your Self Confidence.
• Keep Calm and Face the Reality.
• Do Not Fear Gossip.
• Do Not Allow Others to Tell on You.
• Commit to What You Can Deliver.
• Work on The Factors Leading To Failures.
• Treat the Failure as An Opportunity.
• Consult A Therapist or Colleagues.
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Simeon’s Answer

Failure is a great opportunity to come to terms with your limitations as an employee and can be a springboard toward future success. Use your failures as opportunities to introspect and reexamine what happened. Often, failure is the only way to realize gaps in one's own skill and knowledge. Accordingly, failure is often the fastest path toward success and skill mastery.
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Luis "Lou"’s Answer

You learn.
Failure is part of life and it will defintily happen on the job. If you are not failing, you are not doing something right,, you are definitely not challenging yourself. What you need to do is learn from your mistakes and move on. How does the saying go: "It is not how you fall, but how do you get back up."
Some of the best things I learned in my career I learned from failures.
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Bill’s Answer

Ana,

I have learned more from the professional failures than I have my success'. After a brief time to reflect on your past experience, explore new opportunities which will better suit you for future success.

Best of luck in your future pursuits.

Bill
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Katherine’s Answer

How high is your ability to withstand stress in the face of failure? Everyone has a different way of facing failure. The most important thing is to find a solution and a way to vent your emotions to improve your ability to withstand stress.
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Bob’s Answer

Anyone who is creative, innovative and willing to attempt new approaches, methods, processes, designs, manufacturing, et cetera, will undoubtedly fail. Failure is an opportunity to observe, to think, to learn and adjust.
Seek to work for companies and leaders who understand and endeavor to foster an environment that permits everyone to be creative on the job.
These leaders will loudly reward innovation and quietly use failures for you to grow in your knowledge and skills. Of course, you should ask for concurrence from leaders before you make significant changes. They should be willing to allow you to pilot or test your ideas before they are included in a major project or program.
Should your failure result in your termination, be honest with yourself as to what it is you learned from the experience and what it is in the future that you would do differently.
Having made a number of mistakes during a lengthy career in business, helped me when becoming the President of several high technology corporations. Don't be afraid to fail.
Fear of failure will keep you from realizing the awesome potential that you have.

Bob recommends the following next steps:

Ask leaders you know-what was your greatest failure in business? What lessons did you learn? How did it change your life or career?
See if you can obtain any case studies that have been written about major business failures as well as what was learned from them.
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Jemima A.’s Answer

Dealing with failure is moving on, understanding why it went that way, learning from the lesson and still wanting to try.

Making mistakes or rather failing only makes you strong..

It isn't easy any where so DON'T GIVE UP
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Marlon’s Answer

For me, it all comes to how big is the failure we are talking about. And please see "failure" as simply not achieving what I expected.

I have the tendecy to set the bar higher than I should and I after going through some hard times, I learned that about myself.

For not so "big failures" - getting a not so contructive feedback on something I worked hard on, not being recognized for something I believe I went above and beyound - I allow myself to have 5min of disappointment and then just have a critical thinking of what can I do better? I don't really compare myself to peers and others in the company, but strictly... how can I improve myself? If that is not clear, that is when I go for my support network (mentor/close friends).

For substancial failures - not getting the promotion you've been waiting for, job at risk, poor performance feedback and so on - It is good to have a hobby/activity to blow off steam. I personally like to scream (in a controled environment, maybe a song) but other activities may apply... just find what works best for you.

Final tip is... if you feel like you failed, the best you can do is to learn from it and try again regardless of how many tries it takes to get you where you want to be.
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Margaret’s Answer

When one door closes, a limitless amount open. Failure is a hard but inevitable part of life and sometimes, oddly enough, it can be for the best. Maybe it's time to explore other job opportunities and at the very least, learn from your mistakes. There is always a lesson to be learned from failure. It is important to use that lesson to your advantage moving forward. Don't give up!
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Tamara’s Answer

We sometimes learn more from our failures than our successes. It may sound like a cliché but I have found it to be true in my career. It is important to determine why the project or assignment was not successful and determine what you would do differently the next time. Treat it as a learning experience and do not give up.

Perseverance is the key to success!
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