Bouncing Back from Rejection

Rejection can hurt. My client recently pitched her business to a group of investors, and she was turned down. She was understandably disappointed. She wanted to use that money to grow her business, and saw immediate opportunities she wanted to jump on. As we debriefed after that experience, we talked about the necessity of bouncing back, of not allowing rejection to derail you. You can waste a great deal of time that way. It makes it harder for you to come back and pitch again, in whatever form that takes, whether it’s to a group of investors or to prospective clients or partners. Bouncing back from rejection is a skill, a skill that can be learned. To help you build that skill, I’ll share with you what I shared with her, this wisdom that I’ve learned about rejection:

1. Accept the rejection

It happened. Take that in and let it settle to ground. Accepting the reality in that moment sets the stage for your recovery.

1. Learn from it

What is the lesson to be learned? Here’s what I asked my client: Were you well prepared? Did you present your argument and message clearly? Did you answer the questions in a way that fully reflected what you want to achieve? Be honest in your answers and you’ll be able to move through the disappointment more quickly. Knowing the why behind the rejection can be valuable in your learning, so ask, politely and respectfully.

1. Apply what you lea

Put that honest knowledge, hard won, to good use. What can I do differently next time? What will I continue to do? Learn consciously and you’ll be able to take what you learn and do better when you know better, to paraphrase Maya Angelou.

1. Keep going

When impact is your focus, persist. When your end game is to make the world a better place for all of us, keep going. Show enthusiasm that can’t be overlooked. Have focus that can’t easily be broken. Be relentless and continue to contribute.

1. Always believe

Stay true to your Impact Purpose, that statement of your desired impact on the highest level. Keep believing in something bigger than yourself. You may have already noticed that this process of recovering from a disappointment and bouncing back requires a fine balance. A balance between letting go and persevering. You have to be able to do both. That’s part of your growth. We’re all growing, if we choose to pursue impact. All of us experience rejection if we are out in the world at all. Your dream of impact deserves to be out in the world, and so you’ll find your ideas and actions rejected at times. Build your Tigger-like resilience so you can bounce back from rejection and have the impact you and your business can have.