I am sure many people have had times in their career when things go wrong or mistakes are made. These setbacks often throw up roadblocks and can stop personal development or even change and innovation.
However, for many leaders, setbacks provide opportunities to learn from. Former US President Bill Clinton said: 'If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person. It's how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit.'
It isn't always to do with age though, and Steve Jobs hits the nail on the head when talking about innovation: 'Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.'
Planning or visualisation
A way of planning for mistakes is to visualise and test them. This can be done mentally, on paper or with trusted people. This is a technique we use in PR when looking at possible negative issues or when responding to a crisis.
Visualising and testing in advance gives you the opportunity to ask difficult questions or plan responses to difficult scenarios. You can also visualise where you want to end up and hold that in mind when dealing with the issue at hand. This helps calm you in a crisis and gives you the confidence you need to handle those sticky moments.
Success
The same can be said when thinking or visualising about the success of your business or career by giving you an objective to strive for. This technique is used in sport to often great success. You can also do this through training. Why not take a look at the i-Select training services to see how this can help you visualise your way to success. Or speak to them about training tailored to your needs.
Marcus Chrysostomou, Marketing Advisor, I-Select Consultancy Ltd & Owner Equilibrium PR