Leadership After the Loss

Josh Haymond
7 days ago
3 min read

What one deal taught us about showing up stronger—when things don’t go our way.

Wins are easy to talk about.

Losses? Not so much.

Our team recently pursued an opportunity that checked every box. We showed up fully. The alignment was strong. The work was solid.

Most of the work I do is filled with what I’d call singles and doubles. Meaningful wins that add up over time. But rarely the kind that clear the fences.

This one? It was a home run. It would’ve been the longest project we’d ever taken on—five full years.

Most of our projects are scoped for 3–6 months. While many extend longer, this one came with a guaranteed long-term runway, no questions asked. That kind of certainty is almost unheard of.

And then—The client didn’t move forward.

Not with another vendor.

Not with a better bid.

They simply pivoted to a different initiative—one that didn’t require our support.

It wasn’t a failure. But it was a moment that required leadership—not to explain the result, but to set the tone for what comes next.

Because the real lesson? Leadership doesn’t just show up when things go right. It’s forged in how we respond when they don’t.

Here’s what that experience left behind—and why it strengthened how we lead.

1. Turn Every Outcome into a Clearer Strategy

After the decision, we didn’t look back to critique. We looked ahead to improve.

We asked:

Did our message land?
Did we listen well enough?
What should change next time?

That process tightened our focus.

Leadership takeaway: Reflection isn’t about fault. It’s about refinement.

2. Set the Emotional Standard Others Follow

A leader’s first move after a loss creates the emotional playbook for the team.

We didn’t over-explain. We didn’t underreact. We acknowledged the outcome and pointed toward what mattered next. That’s what people needed: steady direction.

Leadership takeaway: Your response writes the team’s next chapter. Choose clarity over commentary.

3. Be Transparent Enough to Build Trust—Not Defensiveness

We didn’t minimize the situation. We shared the reality of what happened and what we’d take from it. That openness didn’t drain morale. It created alignment and trust.

Leadership takeaway: Transparency isn’t risky when it’s purposeful. It’s what earns followership.

4. Lead the Relationship—Not Just the Deal

The conversation didn’t end when the decision was made. We stayed engaged—not to push for a different outcome, but because trust is built when you show up consistently, regardless of the result.

Leadership takeaway: Relationships outlast results. The way you lead after a “no” says more than how you celebrate a “yes.”

5. Refine the Playbook Before It Gets Stale

We didn’t scrap our process. We sharpened it. New insights led to better questions, stronger positioning, and a more agile mindset going forward.

Leadership takeaway: Staying relevant means improving before you're forced to.

Final Thought

The deal didn’t close. And yes—it stung.

It was the kind of opportunity that doesn’t come around often: high alignment, long runway, real impact. Walking away with nothing to show for it was tough.

But we didn’t walk away empty-handed.

We gained clarity.

We sharpened our process.

We deepened trust with each other—and with the client.

When the outcome falls short, the most important move is showing what forward looks like—for your team, your process, and yourself.

That’s where growth takes hold, and that’s where the next opportunity begins.