How to Handle Failure at Work
Feeling like you failed at work can be crushing. It’s important to remember, though, that failure happens to everyone, and everyone has to handle its aftermath. Understanding that failure happens, owning your mistake, and framing your failure as a chance to learn will help you not only handle your failure, but grow from it and come out stronger on the other side.
Method One of Three:
Accepting Failure
- 1Tell your supervisor directly.Telling your boss you didn’t meet expectations or made a big mistake is nerve-racking. Letting them find out from someone else will ultimately make things much worse, though. As soon as you know something is wrong, talk to your boss directly. Briefly explain the situation, apologize to them, and assure them it will never happen again.[1]
- If other parties were involved, you may need to discuss this with your boss. Avoid throwing others under the bus, though. This makes you look afraid and unreliable.
- This ultimately shows your boss that you understand the gravity of the situation, that you aren’t afraid of accountability, and that you want to work to move past problems rather than covering them up.
- 2Remind yourself that failure happens to everyone. Stand in front of the mirror, look yourself in the eyes, and say, “Everyone fails sometimes.” When you first experience a failure, it can feel crushing. The truth is, though, that most people fail multiple times over the course of their careers. Understanding that can help you redirect your focus from your negative feelings.[2]
- Don’t let a setback define you as a failure to yourself. You may not have succeeded at this goal or task, but that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to fail at everything for the rest of your life.
- If you’re feeling stuck or finding it difficult to move on after a failure, talk to a mentor or a professional counselor. They may have advice about how to cope.
- 3Break down why the failure happened. It’s easy to blame yourself, but failure is rarely personal. Whether you failed to successfully complete a project or got passed over for your dream job, there was a reason you didn’t succeed. Write down the reasons you think you failed, then brainstorm any potential root causes or contributing factors for those reason.[3]
- If, for example, you got passed over for a promotion, the reason may be that the company wants someone with 5-7 years of experience, and you only have 2.
- The root cause for your company wanting someone with more experience may be because your industry has a high turnover rate, and they don’t want to invest time in an employee that will leave the company soon thereafter. It’s not you, it’s just the nature of your industry.
- Conversely, if you were let go from your job because you were routinely late and failed to complete your job duties, the root cause is that you were not meeting the expectations of the position.
- 4Take a break from the task or assignment. If you can, take a little time to focus on other things. This helps refocus your attention on something constructive, and may help make dealing with a problem or mistake easier overall.[4]
- If work seems overwhelming in the immediate moment, get away from your desk. Go for a quick walk around the block, grab a cup of coffee, or take an early lunch.
- You could also excuse yourself to make a quick personal call if you feel like you need to vent. Call a friend, a family member, or anyone else that offers you emotional comfort. Just be sure not to take more than 5-10 minutes away from your workstation.
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