3 Steps to Overcoming a Setback

Last week I tweaked my knee during a game in my adult co-ed rec soccer league. Like David Beckham, I was hoping to use this season as a launching pad to South Africa this summer, but unfortunately I too will be left off the roster. The past few weeks I have been so excited about Winter breaking and getting back to running full time. I’ve been loving soccer, building my mileage back up, and have been eyeing a few races. Now, I have to sit, be patient, and try to wait for my knee to feel better. Once I finally get going again, I might be slow getting back up to speed. I’m frustrated.

Overcoming setbacks is difficult. Just a few days after surgery to repair a torn achilles tendon, David Beckham says he is feeling positive and now concentrating on getting back to full fitness over the coming months. A positive attitude is a good start on the road to recovery.

In any business there will be setbacks. In your practice, maybe you lost your best assistant, or even your office manager. Maybe you had an injury or a personal situation that forced you to halt your progress and take a step back. Maybe the economy hit you harder than most. As I mentioned, I’m struggling and frustrated with my setback, but here’s how I’m going to rehab.

1. Stay Positive. This might be the hardest part, especially as you see your colleagues progressing or coming out of the recession a little faster than you. If you are facing recovery in your practice, the first step is to be positive. Your attitude (positive or negative) will be passed on to your staff and to your patients. Keep a good outlook and smile your way through it.

2. Go Slow. This is the frustrating part. You want to go fast, you know you can go fast, but you are limited by your surroundings or situation. It takes time to train a new team member or to implement a new strategy. Don’t worry about what others are doing. Focus on making your practice stronger each day.

3. Learn Something. I learned that my legs aren’t strong enough. Yes, I can run in a straight line at a pretty good pace, but my legs aren’t prepared for the forces that soccer can put on them. I will be adding new strength exercises to prevent a repeat injury. You might need to study up on interviewing and recruiting, take a practice development course, or simply change your schedule. Even if your setback couldn’t be prevented, you can still learn something to better prepare yourself for the future. Use this opportunity to educate yourself and improve your practice.

Anything to add? I’d love to hear from you.