Productivity Hack #7: Take Setbacks In Stride

“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Written by Kevin Tyler Smith. You can follow me on Twitter or Facebook

One of the biggest roadblocks to productivity is the response many people have in regards to setbacks.

If a setback is viewed as a failure, it can not only limit your productivity but it can go as far as to prevent you from doing anything at all.

When you see a setback as a failure, it can stop you from proceeding forward.  You may accomplish less or you may accomplish nothing at all.

Setbacks can occur from making mistakes from not being adequately prepared for what you need to do or from unexpected problems.

Your response to a setback determines how it will affect you and your productivity.

However a setback occurs, there is a specific outlook which you can employ to prevent it from becoming a roadblock and actually increase your overall productivity.

Let’s take it in stride my friend…pay close attention

Whether the setback was due to an error on your part, or whether it was no one’s fault, refusing to see it as a failure is the first step in getting you back on track.

“Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven’t half the strength you think they have.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale

The Second Chance Theory

The second step is to see the setback as an opportunity to do better the next time. If you have made an error in your work, the best approach is to be swift in your actions, correct the error and move on.

While it is essential that you not try to cover up a mistake, you cannot afford to allow a mistake to cause you to stop.  If you fail to correct it and move ahead, you may find yourself dwelling on it.  You may beat yourself up about the mistake or even obsess about it.

“In every adversity there lies the seed of an equivalent advantage. In every defeat is a lesson showing you how to win the victory next time.” ~ Robert Collier

These behaviors are never useful.  Not only will they prevent you from getting things done, they will also cause you to feel bad about yourself.  At its worst, it can lead you to feel incompetent.  This is not the way to get things done.

Viewing each setback as a learning experience is a much better approach.  Tell yourself that you are capable of doing better and capable of doing more.  As long as you look at setbacks this way, instead of as failures, they will not prevent you from moving forward.  Be expeditious, correct the mistake, learn from it and move ahead.  When you have developed this habit and make it a regular part of your life, setbacks will not stand in the way of your productivity ever again.

See Also – Productivity Hack:

#1: Set A Game Plan

#2: Reduce Distractions

#3: Large Projects First

#4: Self-Discipline

#5: Doing The Impossible

#6: Increasing Motivation

____________

What Now? Learn more about the author - Stay in touch and stay connected
Kevin Recommends: Net Million System - make a living online. Leverage - max online productivity

Enjoy this article?, get Promethean updates straight to your inbox.  Also, please “share this” with your friends on Facebook, Stumbleupon, Digg, etc. and “tweet” to your followers on Twitter. They will love you for empowering them.

*photo credit: armandino