March Madness is here! The NCAA tournament tips off March 18 with 68 teams, narrowing to the Final Four by April 5. That means 64 teams will be watching from the stands as the last four chase their championship dreams.

It’s not always easy to cheer for others when they’re living the success you’ve been dreaming of. Sure, there’s always next year—but how do you handle the disappointment of falling short this year? How do you truly feel about those who are achieving what you wanted? And what does any of this have to do with business and professional growth?

 Making it to Your Personal “Final Four”

Imagine this: You’ve been working hard—exceeding KPIs, developing your team, and proving yourself as a strong leader. A new senior leadership role opens up, and you feel confident that your efforts have positioned you well for the promotion. But after weeks of interviews, the company announces that a fellow leadership team member has been chosen instead. To make things more challenging, you’ll now be reporting directly to them, effective immediately.

After some reflection, you may begin to understand why they were chosen, but the disappointment still lingers—and that’s understandable. It’s tough to miss out on a promotion you truly wanted and felt qualified for. And now, the real challenge begins: deciding how you will move forward from here.

Actions speak louder than words

The actions and mindset you choose going forward will convey to everyone your feelings about the situation. You’ll want to consider your wisest options, especially ones that will increase your chances for a future promotion. Wisdom probably dictates that you move ahead with a positive attitude, including congratulating this new leader on their promotion. Likewise, convey to your direct reports that as a team, you all are going to work hard to contribute to the success of this senior leader.

How you choose to respond will speak volumes to those around you. The wisest path forward is one that keeps your future success in mind—one that positions you for the next opportunity. This likely means moving ahead with a positive attitude, including genuinely congratulating the new leader on their promotion. Just as import is setting the tone for your team by reinforcing a shared commitment to contributing to this leader’s success. And in doing so, you demonstrate true leadership, resilience, and professionalism.

Servant Leadership
This is true servant leadership, recognizing that celebrating and supporting others’ success never diminishes your own. In fact, it strengthens your personal opportunities for professional growth and future success.