What would a man have done? Would he have walked away, disregarding the offer, or would he have played his cards quietly, graciously, and just accepted the nomination despite the bitter taste in his mouth?
Obama's campaign minimized Hillary Clinton's experience in foreign policy (her fisherman's tale of Bosnia didn't help her credibility much) with great success. Not only that, but her leadership qualifications were also belittled and she was portrayed as passé in an election all about change. When she was shoved out of the election, most people thought she was gone for good.
And yet, with her nomination as the new Secretary of State, her comeback is significant. Not a surprise, as some people warned she'd "be back" somehow, someway, sometime...
What leadership qualities does it take to stay highly competitive in a dog-eat-dog world, in spite of a big loss?
1. Play it cool: win or lose, continue to make yourself available to serve others in the best of common purposes.
2. Continue to connect: you may feel the pain from having lost, but you do not want to be a sore loser. Keep in touch with others with whom you share a common goal and a common purpose.
3. Practice patience: what goes around comes around. People around you will see and remember your leadership qualities; the leader who is in control of his or her emotions will go a long way.
4. Persevere: if you are determined to have a position of power, do not give up if you do not win the specific position that you were passionate about. Instead, work hard on the tasks that are right in front of you as you remain open to new opportunities.
Food for thought: Do you believe men and women take "losing" differently in the workplace? What would you have done if you had been in Hillary's place? Continue in the Senate? Retire? Accompany past President Bill Clinton in his philanthropic initiatives?
