Four ways to handle setbacks
Someone on the Unclutterer team is
an avid tennis fan (that would be me) and though she isn’t a player herself,
she does enjoy watching well fought battles on the court, especially when one
of the players is Roger Federer. Unfortunately, Federer was ousted a few days
ago in the quaterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open. Since he went into that event
as the defending champion, there was high expectations for him to perform well.
As the result was less than desired, Federer offered some insights on how he
planned to deal with this setback — a lesson that even non-tennis players would
do well to pay close attention to.
Look
for things that worked
In his post-match interview, Federer
reflected on the things that went well during the tournament. Though he
acknowledged that he would have liked to have played differently, he also
talked about specific things he did well (like fighting from behind to
ultimately win one of his matches and serving well).
When faced with a disappointing
situation, finding things you’re proud of is probably not the easiest thing to
do. But, give a try anyway. Doing this may help you feel better and lift any
negative feelings you may have. Take some time to think about (and perhaps
write down) the specific things that worked in your favor. Remember what you
need to continue doing when faced with similar situations and build your
confidence.
Focus
on long-term plans
Federer often talks about his plans
over the long-term when he loses a match (stay on tour for several years, stay
healthy, win tournaments), and that was a consistent message in his last
presser. That’s not to say that he ignores short-term improvements (like how to
better deal with balls sent high to his backhand), but he realizes that he
can’t get so consumed by the emotions of a disappointing perfomance that he
loses sight of his ultimate plans.
Looking at the big picture and your
long-term goals will give you the chance to channel your disappointment in a
constructive way. By keeping your eye on the ultimate prize, you take your mind
off how you’re currently feeling so you can forge ahead and make strategic
adjustments to your plans. Remember that your goals give structure to your
planning and remind you why you embarked on the journey in the first
place.
Manage
your schedule well
One of Federer’s main goals is to
stay injury free, which means he needs to be very particluar about which events
he plays. As he mentioned a few days ago, a packed schedule will simply
increase the opportunities for injuries to happen and decrease available time
for training and recovery. In preparation for the clay court season, he will
spend more time training aggressively before his next event in May.
What does this mean for you? If your
schedule is always full and there are no straegically placed breaks (or time
for refining your plans), you’ll quickly find yourself running on empty and not
performing at your best. Before saying “yes,” to the next project that comes
your way or adding more voluntary items to your task list, be certain that you
will have the time to complete them. And, you should also consider whether or
not any new opportunities align with your long-term plans.
Surround
yourself with a good team
For a long while, Federer played
without a coach but now he has added a coach to his team with positve results.
In fact, Federer has acheived success (like reclaiming the number-one ranking
and winnning Wimbledon in 2012) that is not typcial for most 31-year old tennis
players. I suspect having a coach has also helped him to manage the sting of losses
in a more constructive way.
Whether you have large goals or
incremental changes you’d like to make, you may need help. Working with a
planning partner, coach, or colleague can help you see different perspectives,
refine your direction, and maintain a positive attitude. Carefully select
someone whose personality and workstyle complement yours, and set up regularly
scheduled meetings to assess your progress.
Setbacks are inevitable and happen
to everyone, even popular tennis players like Roger Federer. And, like Federer,
you can take specific action steps to manage them well. Begin by tuning out
negative talk (from yourself and others) and incorporate some of the suggested
strategies so you can stay focused on your larger goals.
by Deb Lee on http://unclutterer.com/2013/03/18/a-lesson-from-roger-federer-four-ways-to-handle-setbacks/
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