Don’t let Setbacks get You Down!

One of the biggest roadblocks to productivity is an approach which many people take to setbacks.  If you see a setback 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.  This is true in any line of work, schooling, or any other area in life.  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 occur in all areas of life.  Regardless of what type of job you have, you probably experience them either occasionally or on a regular basis.  Setbacks can occur from making mistakes, from not being adequately prepared for what you need to do, or from unexpected problems which are not anyone’s fault.  The way you experience and view a setback determines how it will affect you and your productivity. 

However a setback occurs, there is one outlook which can prevent it from becoming a roadblock, and actually increase your productivity.  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.  

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 try to 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.  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.  You can 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.  Correct the mistake and learn from it, and move ahead.  When you have developed this pattern, and make it a regular part of your work life, setbacks will not stand in the way of being productive.