Thread: I learned early on as an Athlete, NCO, CWO, and SES. What makes one leader overcome defeat and rejection while another fails to move on? What motivates one leader to learn from disappointment and another to decide never to try again?

1. Acknowledge it. Instead of suppressing, denying or making excuses, they address the emotions they are feeling and do not minimize the frustration and disappointment. It is a chance to process what happened with trusted advisors and your inner circle about what to do next.

2. Continue to Push the Envelope. Resilient people and leaders recognize that most aspirations and goals aren’t achieved immediately or at all. Show others that you are pushing yourself to learn and grow even through times of discomfort. Successful leaders have grace.

3. Be Realistic and Encourage Themselves. After a disappointment, strong-minded individuals are realistic and use affirmations to reframe the situation positively. They avoid negative self-talk and focus on the next steps to take to define who they are.

4. Learn from the Experience. Effective leaders seek to learn from each experience whether successful or not. They look for ways to improve the situation or gain insights about how to avoid something similar in the future. They ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself.

5. They ask questions, examine what could have been done differently, and become better and stronger for the next challenge or opportunity. Most important they take care of their team and create an environment of success.