Professional Setbacks Happen to All of Us. Here Are Some Lessons From Resetting My Career. | Dan Harris & Toni Magyar

1. Practice Self-Compassion

Slow down, be gentler with yourself, and avoid self-blame, especially when things aren’t going well. This is critical because shame and self-laceration do not help your business or relationships, and being kinder to yourself improves effectiveness and prevents negative repercussions on others.

2. Cultivate Upward Spiral

Learn to take care of your own mind, as this will improve your relationships because you will be easier on others. Since relationships are vital for human flourishing, your inner well-being will improve, further enhancing relationships and leading to a positive upward cycle.

3. Expect Adversity, Be Prepared

Adopt the mindset to ’expect nothing, be prepared for anything,’ rather than expecting a smooth, upward trajectory in life or business. This approach is not about being hypervigilant, but about building confidence in your ability to handle whatever challenges emerge.

4. Recognize Groundlessness as Truth

See clearly that groundlessness is the fundamental truth of reality, meaning security is an illusion and ceaseless change is constant. This mindfulness practice is a healing modality because it stops you from arguing with reality, allowing you to surrender and respond wisely instead of reacting blindly.

5. Never Worry Alone

Surround yourself with people you trust and talk to them about the difficulties you’re facing. Stress is significantly reduced by having a supportive network in your orbit.

6. Develop Self-Confidence

Cultivate an inner sense of confidence that you can handle whatever challenges come your way, even if you are scared. Reflect on past experiences to reinforce your ability to deal with difficulties, which helps in self-soothing and reduces anxiety.

7. Acknowledge Imperfection, Learn

Remind yourself that being imperfect and making mistakes is part of being human and necessary for learning. Being okay with your own screw-ups, even as a leader, can reduce shame and provide positive modeling for others.

8. Act with Best Information

When making decisions, recognize that you did the best you could with the information available at the time, even if circumstances change and you later regret the outcome. This helps mitigate self-blame and regret, acknowledging that many factors may not have been in your control.

9. Recognize Change is Constant

Understand that change is constant and that any current feeling or worry is temporary and will eventually shift. This perspective helps manage anxiety by acknowledging the impermanence of all states.

10. Practice Mindfulness Meditation

Engage in mindfulness meditation to train your mind to see reality clearly. This practice helps you respond wisely to situations rather than reacting blindly, fostering a sense of surrender and relaxation into the truth of ceaseless change.

11. Build Community for Growth

Integrate a community aspect into self-improvement efforts, as ’turning self-improvement into the carpool lane is a much more effective way to do it.’ This collective support, or ‘Sangha,’ provides structure for people to learn and practice together, enhancing personal growth.

12. Focus on Strengths, Delegate

Identify what you are truly good at and want to focus on, then get help for everything else that falls outside those core strengths. This strategy allows you to excel in your primary areas while ensuring all necessary tasks are handled effectively.

13. Be Vigilant for Unsaid

As a leader, make an effort to be vigilant about ‘what’s not being said’ or the unspoken undercurrents within your team. This helps uncover concerns that people might be afraid to voice due to power dynamics, fostering a more open environment.

14. Express Team Gratitude

Consistently and explicitly express gratitude to your team members for their contributions. It is crucial to say out loud that you appreciate their efforts, as this boosts morale and strengthens team relationships.

15. Experiment, Be Willing to Fail

Embrace experimentation and be willing to fail, viewing it as the opposite of perfectionism. Trying different approaches, even if some don’t work, is super important for learning, growth, and discovering what is effective.

16. Combine Teaching with Practice

Pair theoretical teachings with practical application, such as guided meditations, to make lessons actionable. This helps ‘pound them into your neurons’ and integrate the knowledge more deeply into your behavior.

17. Explore Diverse Teachers

Seek exposure to a variety of teachers and their different styles, for example, through a ‘Teacher of the Month’ program. This helps you find instructors and approaches that resonate most with you, deepening your personal practice.

18. Communicate Clearly During Change

As a leader or organization, be a very good and clear communicator during periods of change, avoiding surprises for your team and audience. This approach ensures trust and stability, especially when navigating new developments.