How to Deal with Rejection at Work

Most of us have already experienced rejection at work. That's a normal part of life, as we all know. This can also be due to various reasons such as lack of self-confidence and little knowledge of the tasks. No matter what causes the rejection, all can agree that it is painful and can affect work performance, when not given proper attention. However, such rejections can also be considered as an opportunity to learn anew.

Common Rejections at Work

Rejections can come from big or small situations. It can happen unexpectedly and may also occur outside work-related events. The following are some of the typical rejections experienced at work:

#1 Not being able to receive a job promotion

#2 Failure to obtain the expected salary

#3 Disapproved proposal for next promotions

#4 Criticized for errors in a marketing strategy

#5 Failure to receive credit for a project's success, and was given to someone else

#6 A crucial presentation has been cancelled

#7 Not being chosen to work on an important assignment

#8 Being turned down by your superiors

#9 A big sale's loss due to high competition

#10 Skills and competencies are not being recognized and given proper attention

Practical Tips to Deal With Rejection at Work 

It is proper to believe that rejections can be a normal part of our lives. They can affect the way we face life's different situations. This also leads to unhappy feelings and discomfort in the workplace. Listed and discussed below are some tips on how to effectively deal with rejection and become more motivated with your job.

#1 Try to let go of the negative feelings due to rejection. After being rejected, you can either feel depressed or become more motivated. It can also lead to blaming yourself because of failure to succeed with what is being expected. If such an attitude continues, then the might as well more rejections will follow. Experts advised that people who experience rejections must learn how to recognize the feelings of frustrations and sadness. Try to let go of this feeling, because that's the first step that is needed to be done. When you let go of those feelings, you will feel better and become more determined again.

#2 Learn to manage your emotions. Feeling bad because of rejection is normal. But this shouldn't be kept for a long time. This type of feeling, as well as other kinds of emotions, must be appropriately managed. Be open-minded when receiving feedback from your colleagues and superiors. Do not join a conversation if you are angry. Avoid making important decisions if you're distracted or confused. Too often, emotional outburst causes more issues in the workplace. That's why emotions mustn't manipulate you.

#3 Strive to minimize rejections in the future. After experiencing rejections, it's essential to maintain a positive attitude. Learn from the previous rejections and get lessons from them. Strive to improve yourself as a professional and competent worker. When you're given another chance, make the most of it. Use it to make a significant turning point. Listen to suggestions from your colleagues and implement them to be able to lessen future rejections.

#4 Acquire lessons from rejections. Rejections can be an essential part of your professional learning. Open your mind to find the things and applications that you can learn from them. Rejections often come with some feedback. They can be harmful or motivating. They remind you about your shortcomings, but at the same time, they can also show your potentials as an employee.

#5 Use a positive approach to get information about your rejection. It's vital not to just feel down after rejections. What's more important is how you find the reasons why you have been rejected. Assess your performance and evaluate the things that you have done. Be it a lack of support from your colleagues or missing effort from your side; you need to find the factors that have contributed to the rejection. At the end of the day, you will become more open in providing solutions instead of blaming yourself. Avoid denying, arguing, and blaming other people.

#6 Aim to develop and change for the better. There's no need to cry over spilled milk, as the famous saying goes. Why stay stagnant because you're being rejected if there's a way to improve and become better? Develop quality relationships with the people in the workplace. Start making the required changes, so you will not be rejected in the future. Utilize the pieces of advice you receive and use them for your next opportunities.

#7 Have the right people monitor your progress. The opinions from other individuals may create a significant impact on you. Although it is crucial to have them, you should also be cautious about which ones will be followed. Not everyone in the workplace can take close monitoring of the steps you take for improvement. They are maybe also busy with their particular jobs. That's the excellent thing why having supervisors, team leaders, and other superiors can track your progress. They can give feedback, and at the same time will motivate you to deal with rejections the right way.

#8 Leverage your passion and courage. You probably feel that you're at your lowest after a painful rejection. This is the moment you will need to give yourself more proper attention. Avoid the negativity; instead, tell yourself that it's the time that you need to be more positive. Think of why you have even started, and why you are striving for a successful career. Reinvent your passion. Remind yourself of how passionate you are to reach the peak of your triumph. There's always a reason why you should not let a rejection defines your whole dream.

Be more courageous to overcome various circumstances due to rejection. Yes, being rejected can make you think that life is fair and impartial. You may lower your self-esteem because you believe that there's always someone far better than you. Such thinking should be replaced by something more positive. Develop your professional courage and always look for better ways on how to promote efficiency at work.

Keep in mind that rejections can happen at work and even in your personal life. They can affect you negatively or positively. These rejections can even impact your personal development and even your work performance. Besides, such can also lower your self-esteem and confidence. What matters is that you learn from rejections and use them those lessons in the future.