The disappointment can feel overwhelming…
Disappointment is a strange emotion. It comes from guessing and assuming something may happen for you or to you. The reality is when it doesn’t happened, it just did not. But yet, we feel such an emotion.
Whether is it not making a team, not being the right partner for someone, not following a recipe well or not getting a job… it is all disappointing.
But how can you put yourself out there to: try out for a team, profess yourself to another, take a chance on a complicated recipe for a dinner party or interview at a job without knowing the risk. You cannot. You have to be ready.
It has me reflecting on the fact that even though you know there is a chance it won’t go your way, you still react as though it was a definite it would go your way.
Sure, the energy and the imagination help. You start to picture yourself doing something which helps execute the energy needed to lead up to it but then it doesn’t go your way. So the fall is further.
But, what if you could train your thoughts to find the value in the disappointment rapidly?
Find the balance that can fuel your flame.
Leaders fail, sometimes often, and the bounce back is actually what determines how good of a leader they can be. That translates to disappointment. When you don’t handle a situation how you should, when you don’t lead ideally, when you miss a key mark - you are disappointed.
Let yourself wallow in it. You owe it to yourself to know and acknowledge what emotions come. It may be anger, disappointment, regret, sadness, or other… but sit in. Not too long. But long enough to get the fuel a good pro/con list. It is a go to for the best leaders to either right or verbally discuss with a strategic partner or executive coach. What went well - why and how. What did not go well - why and how. Now, what did we learn.
Take the learning and fuel the fire. Then release the emotions and move on. It seems too simplistic to work but some of the best executive coaching secrets are just that. Simple. Human. Thought provoking.