Dont get bitter get better

Don’t get bitter, get better.

No one appreciates a bad loser – whether it’s in sport, general life or business!

You’ve seen the player where he doesn’t score and he becomes visibily frustrated and angry – and everyone knows about it! It can be natural to feel like that player when you fail to ‘score’ in business. In our business we’ve had wins and we’ve had losses – so allow me to share with you a few pointers on better dealing with the losses and becoming a gracious ‘loser’ and ultimately becoming better.

Don’t shy away from your feelings

I’ve seen it first-hand – some people react to losing by crying, others need to take their frustration by shouting or kicking the chair! Don’t ignore your true feelings but learn the best way to manage them. Step away from the situation and deal with your feelings privately. It’s important to discover what your best coping mechanism is, even if it’s just something as simple as a breather with a cup of tea.

Learn from the losses

No one likes losing but it’s all part of  business. It’s highly unlikely you will win every single tender, or each pitch will land with every customer you speak to. Like any life experience, look at the losses as learning curves. Why did you lose out on that contract? Was there something you could have done better? If appropriate, ask why the potential client has decided not to work with you. Looking back and assessing will help minimise your future losses.

Don’t dwell on losses alone

Failing to talk with others about a loss in business can cause anger and frustration to build up. Discuss with your team and get their fresh perspective on the situation. If they were involved with the loss, don’t blame them but analyse and discuss openly with them what could be improved next time.

Congratulate the winner

Whether it’s a competitor who won that contract you really wanted or a colleague who got the promotion or project instead of you, sincerely congratulating the winner shows you can accept losing graciously and that you respect and recognise their achievements.

There is nothing wrong with being competitive. It shows you’re passionate about what you do and you want your business to be the best it possibly can be. Knowing how to manage your inevitable losses will help you to always get better in what you do.

 Any other pointers, thoughts?