Handling rejection within the workplace: Four evidence-based approaches

Abstract

Rejection in the workplace is a ubiquitous and often harmful experience that can impact professionals at any stage of their career. Rejection directly affects individuals, by producing negative outcomes such as burnout, stress, and negative moods. In turn, impacting important organizational outcomes, such as productivity and employee turnover. Hence, learning to handle rejection’s consequences in a way that points individuals and organizations toward growth is of great salience for the modern workforce. In this paper, we discuss four evidence-based approaches to handling rejection at work (mindfulness, growth mindset, emotional regulation, and the efficacious delivery of rejection) and then provide practical advice to managers in applying the extant research to hamper the negative effects of rejection at work.