We all deal with little victories and disappointments on a regular basis, but every once and a while a biggie happens. It’s easy to celebrate the big victories, but it’s much more challenging to manage big disappointments.

This could be the expectation of receiving an important promotion, a new and better job, or an opportunity to break into a new client relationship. It doesn’t matter what “it” is; if you had your heart set on it and it doesn’t happen, it can feel like a setback.

How can managers support their employees and provide them with ways to overcome letdown when these things happen? Here are some ideas to share with them.

+ Ask them to reflect on how they presented their credentials and experience. Could they have packaged themselves or your company differently?

+ If there is a way to ask for direct feedback from the decision maker, suggest that they solicit it. Many decision makers are generally agreeable to share their opinions, and if the employee can gain some insight, it’s well worth following up.

+ Can they benefit from developing additional skills or experience so they’re better prepared the next time? If so, suggest that they take steps to acquire that new knowledge.

+ Ask them (hindsight being 20/20) whether this opportunity was all they thought it would be. After going through the experience, the promotion may not have been all it was cracked up to be or the client opportunity may have been off base.

In any situation like this, ask them to think about what they can learn from the experience so that they’re better positioned and prepared the next time around.

And of course, like falling off the proverbial bicycle, make sure they get up and try again soon.

“Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.”
– Jim Rohn

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