Everyone experiences adversity at work. No person is exempt from its reach. On-the-job adversity can be many things-hardship, difficulty, misery, calamity or failure. It masquerades as small setbacks, medium-sized obstacles or major challenges, which are brought to light on a daily basis. Intuitively we have a variety of ways to deal with adversity at work.

• We complain about the situation.

• We blame others for the adversity.

• We act like nothing has happened and deny that the adversity exists.

• We get angry at our inability to control the situation.

• We give up, become discouraged and feel helpless.

• We run from the problem by resigning or leaving the job and company.

These are just a handful of possible reactions to adversity at work. Actual responses are unique to each individual. The important thing to remember however is that adversity on the job teaches some very valuable lessons that when put to use will enhance career success.

Overcoming Adversity at Work

One of the most damaging myths today is that everything a successful person does turns into gold! This assumption is quite FALSE. Successful people do not always achieve their desired outcomes. It’s a known fact that they fail more than they succeed.

The difference between them and unsuccessful people is that they continue to try new things in spite of the failures and persevere until they win.

Successful people exhibit the following characteristics and reinforce them constantly.

• They don’t spend any time holding “pity parties” and whining or complaining. Instead, they consider their mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow.

• They embrace new perspectives and are willing to change even though it may be painful.

• They maintain a positive attitude about themselves, their jobs, the work environment and the people with whom they work, and as a result benefit from adversity.

• They look for “blessings in disguise” and understand that adversity on the job builds strength, courage, determination, character and competence.

• They seek ways to improve the situation, eliminate the obstacle or conquer the challenge.

• They recover more quickly from adversity at work because they are resilient and view work-related challenges as manageable events that can be overcome.

• They remain confident and optimistic throughout the adverse circumstances, and find new ways to perform job responsibilities in the midst of adversity.

• They communicate positively and work hard to enhance interpersonal skills and relationship building.

• They find ways to mentor others who are experiencing adversity at work.

Each step a person takes to successfully deal with on-the-job adversity is a building block to a strong foundation for career success. It’s not what happens to you at work, but what you make out of what happens that determines your success.

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