Setbacks

In The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work Setbacks are those events which employees may

Practical tips

Deal With Setbacks Constructively

Of all the events that diminish inner work life, setbacks in the work are the single most important. However, organizations that deal with setbacks constructively are able to minimize their negative impact. These companies address setbacks quickly, and tend to view them as learning opportunities and challenges rather than as failures.

Sweat the Small Stuff

Seemingly small events can have a large impact on inner work life. We found that 28% of events that people said were of low importance actually had a large impact on their inner work lives. In particular, keep in mind that even small incremental progress supports inner work life – and even small losses can be demoralizing.

Minimize the Negative

Negative events are more powerful than positive ones. Setbacks have a greater negative impact on emotions than progress, and the negative effects of toxins tend to be more powerful than the positive effects of nourishers. So, it is especially important to minimize the probability of negative events and to deal with them quickly and effectively when they do happen.