Five Steps to Deal with Failure

by Fred Stuvek Jr. | Dec 2, 2019

The mettle of an organization and an individual’s character are revealed in how they deal with failure.  Avoidance is not a winning strategy.  You have to face failure head-on.  When you do find yourself in this predicament, adhere to these basic steps for your recovery:

1. Mind-set – The first and most important thing to do is to get your mind right. Do not dwell on it, indulge in self-pity, or feel sorry for yourself. It will not change what happened.  You failed because you had the courage to try something and it did not work out, but you have a choice.  That choice is how you react and how you deal with it.  Look at this as a learning lesson on the path to success.  Have faith in yourself and be determined and motivated to find a way or make one.  Maintain your composure, stay focused, and stay positive with the firm belief and commitment in what you are doing providing you with the courage and wherewithal to keep moving forward.

2. Accurate Date and Feedback – You need to find out what went wrong, what the consequences are, and what potential options exist. Basing your recovery and actions on inaccurate or misleading information compounds things, possibly turning a failure into a tragedy. It is imperative to get an accurate assessment, which requires candor and honesty, with an environment conducive to this type of exchange of information.

3. Be Objective and Rational – Exercise self-control, and resist actions you will later regret. Keep your head in the game as decisions made in an emotional or angry manner are almost always bad decisions, laden with negative consequences.

4. Learn, Plan, and Adapt – There are two lessons to be learned here. The first is what caused the failure. The second is taking heed of the events causing the failure in order to prevent future recurrences.  Break it down into the essential components, understanding that oftentimes it is not one thing, but a series of events which caused it to happen.  Whatever the cause, get to the root of it, and take action.

5. Be Realistic and Resilient – Emerging from failure is a process, fraught with ups and downs, and takes time.  The factors that will determine what you can do or what you can’t do are usually resource-or time-related.  Be prepared to make tough decisions, paying heed not only to what went wrong, but also what went right.  Perseverance and determination are critical to seeing things through. You must have the character and strength of will to get through it.  Take care of your people; there are others around you who may not be as resilient as you are and may not fare as well.

Ten Reasons for Failure

by Fred Stuvek Jr. | Nov 13, 2019

Success is a number of things done consistently well, across the spectrum.  Failure is the antithesis, with the reasons for failure caused by any one or a combination of the following:

1. Staying in your Comfort Zone – We place a high value on winning above all else; many equate the thought of failing with losing. Consequently, a mind-set of “never fail, never lose” is adopted, which is a flawed line of thinking.  Your commitment to succeed must be stronger than your fear of failure, otherwise you never try, which in itself is a failure since you are not doing anything and will never realize your full potential.

2. Lack of Belief – A passionate belief in what you are doing and confidence in your ability are essential. The absence of either one of these two ingredients will ultimately catch up with you.  Your strength of conviction and belief in yourself will imbue you with confidence to face whatever is put in front of you.

3. Lack of Competence – Your ability directly translates to your skill set. If do not have the requisite training or background you will lack confidence, have low self-esteem, and continually be on the defensive. Ensure you are a good fit for what you are doing, play to your strengths, and develop a distinct set of competencies which enhance your prospects for continued success.

4. Lack of Perseverance – Nothing good comes easily or quickly. You have to work for it, stay with it, and never give up.  It is imperative for you to have the conviction, determination, and will to weather the bad times in order to reach your goals.

5. Lack of Character – Character counts; it matters. Individuals with a negative attitude and fatalistic views do not imbue confidence.  Holding others accountable but never accepting responsibility is unfair to those on the team.  Intolerance and lack of empathy to those around you affects teamwork and morale.  Holding others to one set of standards, while compromising those same standards through your actions, undermines your personal authority.

6. Lack of Discipline – Discipline relates directly to self-control, which must be practiced in order to be disciplined. It means continually adhering to the highest standards of conduct and business practice, avoiding shortcuts and temptations to do otherwise.  You face problems head-on and do not procrastinate, understanding you have to put in the time, make sacrifices along the way, and exhibit a strong work ethic.

7. Lack of Focus – There needs to be continuing attention and focus on strategy, process, and implementation, including metrics and timeline. You need to be cognizant of direction, warning signs, and make course adjustments as necessary.  Avoid devoting an inordinate amount of time to distractions which do not contribute to your personal and professional goals.

8. Business Partners – Most of the problems in business are people related. Great care should be taken when putting together a team to ensure you have the right balance of talent with good chemistry.  Just as importantly, make sure who you hire is who they say they are and has accomplished that which is being touted.

9. Lack of Resources – This is usually finance related, pertaining to the inability to raise funds or the depletion of funds. Close attention must be paid to cash flow and trends, ensuring that reserves are put aside, and most importantly, that plans are realistic and attainable.

10. Poor Planning and Execution – When a business is in peril or fails, poor planning and execution are always central contributors.  An aggressive plan with bad management and poor communication is usually fatal.  Poor leadership combined with arrogance usually results in an inability, even unwillingness, to accept feedback, which later manifests itself in an avalanche of hidden problems.  A lack of clear goals and little to no accountability jeopardize your ability to track and determine progress toward objectives, metrics, and timelines.