Rejection - How to Handle It and Empower Yourself

Hello again!

How is your week going?  Today we are going to discuss how to handle rejection like a pro and turn those rejections into opportunities.  Whether you are interviewing for a job or in a sales oriented position rejection is simply something that will happen and the best way to handle it is to control how you feel about it.  Let’s explore some facts.

Fact 1

Did you know that your brain handles rejection in a way that is very similar to physical pain? ²  In fact, it is so similar that you can actually ease that horrible feeling you get with a pain killer.  Isn’t that a funny fact?  Doesn’t that put a new perspective on why you feel lousy after being rejected?

Fact 2

Rejection can cause anger, aggression, and even temporarily lower your IQ.  What does this mean?  If being rejected suddenly has you seeing red, don’t act on it.  Instead, realize that it is just a moment in time and step away from the situation.  You would literally be reacting negatively by acting on those feelings.

Fact 3

Rejection isn’t personal, it’s usually just matter of timing.  A great lesson is from Peter Fletcher’s blog.  His example was a real estate consultant that was not chosen for the original job.  When his competitor failed to complete the required task, he was immediately next in line and completed what his competitor could not.  Leaving a rejection with a good impression and not counting it as a closed door always leaves it as a possibility.

To summarize, rejection isn’t rational and may cause you to be pained and angry.  Don’t let that control you.  Leave with dignity and grace and move on to the next possibility – you never know what is waiting in the future.  The person that rejected you but holding onto your business card may very well be your next best client.

1.  Michaels, Sharon. (Sep 8, 2014).  How Do You Handle Rejection.  Forbes.com.  Retrieved from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/womensmedia/2014/09/08/how-do-you-handle-rejection/

2.  Winch, Guy. (Jul 03, 2013).  10 Surprising Facts About Rejection.  Psychologytoday.com.  Retrieved from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201307/10-surprising-facts-about-rejection

3.  Fletcher, Peter.  (Feb 08, 2014).  7 Ways to Handle Rejection Like a Pro.  Peterfletcher.com.au.  Retried from: http://peterfletcher.com.au/2014/02/08/7-ways-to-handle-rejection-like-a-pro/