Written by Senior Marketing Manager Bella Nichols and Head of Marketing Josh Trebilcock.
We’ve all experienced it. The moment when things go off-track, when the plan falls apart, and when failure seems inevitable. But what separates the successful from the rest isn’t the absence of setbacks, it’s their ability to bounce back. Life is full of challenges – no matter how meticulously we plan or how hard we prepare, things don’t always go to plan. Think back to the last time you faced a setback or mistake – how did you respond? Whether it was a minor inconvenience like spilling coffee on your shirt right before a presentation, or a more significant setback like losing a job or facing a major defeat in a competition, the way we respond in these moments can influence the current and future outcome. We refer to this as ‘bouncebackability’: the capacity to recover from adversity to get things back on track.
A fundamental principle in building resilience is the idea of ‘controlling the controllables’. You can’t control everything, but you can control your reactions, your actions, and your mindset.
Imagine you’re headed to an important meeting, only to get a flat tire on the way. These things happen. By fixating on the things you can’t control, like the tire or the traffic, you’ll likely find yourself in a frustration spiral making little progress in actually fixing the problem. Instead, focus on what you can control – your response. You can remain calm, you can assess the damage, you can change the tire for the spare … or if you’re having a really bad day and don’t have a spare … ring AA! Instead of letting the frustration ruin your day, focus on your mindset, your actions, and your next steps.
In elite sport, where athletes are continually under intense pressure, bouncebackability is a crucial component of success. Each of the examples below gives insight into a high performance mindset. What can we learn from how athletes use bouncebackability in business? (and our everyday lives)
“Accept it, and then come back” – This video of Novak Djokovic serves as a powerful reminder that mindset can play a huge role in responding to pressure. Djokovic speaks here on the importance of how quickly we recover after a mistake can determine how long we’re ‘down’ for. By accepting it and coming back, we can determine (and reduce) how much of a negative impact a mistake has!
For years, Ben Hunt-Davis and his rowing crew had consistently finished 7th or 8th. There were multiple times when giving up would have been the easy option. However, rather than letting these setbacks define them, they focused on what they could control: their mindset, teamwork, technique and training to name a few. By shifting their focus from simply winning, to refining their process, this meant they could find marginal gains out of every loss.
When they reached the 2000 Sydney Olympics, their goal was clear: win their heat, qualify for the final, and ultimately claim a medal. But in the first heat, they were once again outperformed by the Australian crew, facing yet another disappointment. This could have been the breaking point. But instead, even so close to the final, the team used the setback to sharpen their focus and refine their strategy. Rather than letting the loss play on their mind, they channelled their determination, staying focused on what hadn’t worked and what they needed to change. Even in the height of pressure during the games, that recovery proved key in leading them to get the better of the Aussies in the final and claiming Olympic gold.
The ability to bounce back from setbacks is one of the most powerful skills you can develop, both professionally and personally. It’s not about avoiding failure, it’s about how you respond when things don’t go as planned. If you’re in a leadership role, it’s a key skill to learn in setting an example to help others respond calmly and rationally.
What’s your equivalent of the Olympic games or gold medal race? Have a think about what projects, deadlines, or perhaps important meetings/calls you have coming up. Through the P.A.D framework that Ben shares, have a think about the questions and tips below for what you’re trying to achieve:
Prepare:
How are you anticipating potential obstacles and planning for them? Think about what could go wrong and how you can respond. Try looking ahead – how can you prepare for any pinch points you can see on the horizon?
- Expect setbacks: The first step is realising that setbacks will happen. No plan survives contact with the enemy. Prepare yourself mentally for the challenges that may come your way. When you’re ready for the unexpected, it’s easier to stay calm and composed when it happens.
Accept:
Accept that not everything is in your hands: Some things you simply cannot control. You can’t control what other people do, you may only be able to influence them. How can you stop worrying about things outside of your control and focus your attention where you can?
- Reframe failure: Failure is just experience in disguise. Michael Jordan once said “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games… I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” By adopting this mindset to interpret failure as an opportunity to find out what you can do better next time, it can provide you with a blueprint for how to achieve your goals.
Do: Focus on what's next
Once you’ve prepared and accepted the situation, it’s time to take action. Focus on what you can do now to move forward. When you face a setback, instead of dwelling on what went wrong, direct your energy into the next step. Small, consistent actions add up over time and keep you moving toward your goal.
- Focus on solutions: After a setback, take a breath. In the moment between the setback and our response we have power to decide how we respond. Focus on what’s next -what’s your next best step? What action can you take that will have a positive impact or move things forward in a productive way? The faster you act to find a resolution, the quicker you’ll get back to full boatspeed. Focus on the steps you can take to get back on track.
- Celebrate small wins
When you face adversity, the journey back to success can feel overwhelming. Break it down into small, manageable steps and celebrate each victory along the way. Every little win is a reminder that you’re back on the right track to course correct.
Working on your Bouncebackability can help you and your team’s capacity to recover from setbacks, adapt to adversity, and continue moving forward. It’s what helps you get back on track after a loss, recover after a mistake, and rise stronger after each challenge. The key is to Prepare, Accept, and Do. How are you going to get started in the week ahead?
