The high achiever mindset is so conditioned to win at everything, all of the time, that whenever we perceive or we’re told that we didn't quite ‘reach the bar’, regardless of whether it has been placed there by ourselves or by others, we consider that we're unsuccessful.
Whether it's losing a major client, folding a business or not getting a job that you've interviewed for, the repercussions on your confidence levels can be devastating.
The internal dialogue can haunt you for a long time and the little voice in your head can scream failure at every new idea you have. Your thoughts scan every decision made, every conversation had and question your belief in yourself; ‘why did this happen to me?’
Success, however, is not without risk and a successful person has had to overcome temporary defeat at one time or another. Richard Branson is a prime example of someone who has failed multiple times but has bounced back, setting himself a larger and larger challenge every time.
Jo Geraghty, managing Director of “Beyond the Ladder” and one of the UK’s leading coaches for executives and entrepreneurs, is not immune from failure either.
“The first time I lost a client, I was in total disbelief. I quizzed myself; ‘I have lots of happy and satisfied clients who are achieving their objectives, making their targets and are happy with the positive influence I'm having on their life so why did this happen to me?’. I felt that I was using my "guaranteed success formula to coaching". So, why hadn’t it worked this time? After this incident, I listed three things that I could do differently next time and decided that my own failure would actually lead to much greater future success. And it did.” explains Jo.
So if you’re dealing with a “failure” what do you need to remember? Jo has three key pieces of advice;
1) You get results where you focus
Your project/business/
2) Ask for feedback & accept the need to change
We know what we're good at, we have case studies galore of things that have gone according to plan but the world evolves, as does the market and our clients. We need to know that we'll be as good tomorrow as we are today. Constantly ask for feedback and if your employer/client/
3) Use the full toolkit
Alas there is no one model or formula for success. You need to use the most appropriate style, skill or technique for each, individual situation. Just because one method may work with one client, don't assume it will work with all.
Nobody likes to feel that they've failed but it really is the only way that we learn. We refine our internal model and do something different next time. Failure is really the very first step to success.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jo Geraghty is managing Director of “Beyond the Ladder” and is one of the UK’s leading coaches for executives and entrepreneurs. Her clients are either current or past employees of large US or European corporations. Some are looking to climb the ladder still further, others want a better work/life balance and many have branched out on their own and now run successful businesses.
Jo has over 14 years experience working for US investment banks in a variety of roles from FX trading to Client Relationship Services and HR Management and was formerly head of HR for Goldman Sachs France and Switzerland.
EDITORS NOTES / OFFERED:
Jo Geraghty is available for interview, comment and written articles. Jo can comment on a variety of areas including:
• understanding your worth in the workplace
• working out what really makes you happy
• turning your dreams in goals
• six top ways to manage stress
• how to keep yourself on track
• how to stop self sabotage
• attracting what you want into your life
Please do contact us if we can provide any assistance.
CONTACT:
Jo can be contacted direct on;
Tel: 020 7241 5504
Mobile: 07787 255 547
Email: jo@beyondtheladder.co.uk
Website: www.beyondtheladder.co.uk
