--- title: When Experience is Helpful and When it is Not description: For leaders, one of the most important factors when dealing with difficult things at work is experience. How can it help or hinder with psychological flexibility? image: https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/patrick-t-kindt-ltifWJbvhXM-unsplash.jpg --- [![Alembicstrategy](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/logo.png?width=218&height=76&name=logo.png "Alembicstrategy")](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/) # Strategic Thinking ![Alembic-Resized-Max](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alembic-Resized-Max.jpg?width=2420&height=692&name=Alembic-Resized-Max.jpg) # When Experience is Helpful and When it is Not Posted by [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) on 23/02/25 17:06 ![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Photo by Patrick T'Kindt on Unsplash](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/patrick-t-kindt-ltifWJbvhXM-unsplash.jpg?width=4909&height=3678&name=patrick-t-kindt-ltifWJbvhXM-unsplash.jpg) Experience is a really important factor in mental agility and emotional adaptability. It’s pretty obvious, right? If you have experienced a similar problem before, then you can draw on that experience to help with your response this time around. But what if this challenge is the first time you have faced something like this, comes out of the blue, and carries a huge toll? And what if you have seen this before, but somehow this experience is exactly the wrong thing to draw upon? The difficult things we have to deal with come in many varieties; grief, illness, a break up, losing your job, a row, a tough decision at work, decisions that negatively affect people’s lives, all of which may be fundamentally uncomfortable and hard to bear. How can we boil all these different contexts down into one concept, like psychological flexibility? Click on "Read on" below to find this resource on our Substack website dedicated to psychological flexibility. [![Read on Substack](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4709945/interactive-186500603922.png) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLK6%2FddkOvabuiwJekXHrujQLxLLrDbuu4b5J95Kxh41KapEkGS2H90lFemHVAzY7WCGL2xQjciok6YUVEgi%2Bau6dVm4uQEGy%2FhQySp4UDw6aWi%2FhBHxhR%2B3k8r3s2YJjwArc9kGdFpngdFVPtD6iqjEvZDfCm3yvmpu7s2vj2UfD1gVV2Cc3OPiVY%2Bl1VicKvAtOIZ9ckYYM57mV9T8LxcCZ82WmqASNR9OdvlSckHFC32dGKS%2B5a1NlvZavQjZgKbZm3jMrP7lpuDf%2F3FL%2BcpuBsstEMPQZZ%2F1vbjqZz7G2bXHYnROQczkuVLxvJZeyTW0%2BPeJAQ35T1hELQ%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=186500603922&portalId=4709945) Topics: [Leadership](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/leadership), [Coaching](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/coaching), [Webinar](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/webinar), [psychological flexibility](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/psychological-flexibility) ## Dealing with Difficult ### Masterclass on dealing with the most difficult leadership challenges Experience is a key factor in your performance when dealing with difficult challenges. However, sometimes it can really get in the way.  Read more about this, find our Substack site, and register to join the Masterclass series. ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [Leadership (33)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/leadership) - [Family Business (29)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/family-business) - [Change (28)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/change) - [Communication (26)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/communication) - [Relationships (25)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/relationships) - [Founder-led (20)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/founder-led) - [Strategy (18)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/strategy) - [Private Equity (17)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/private-equity) - [Success (17)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/success) - [Emotional Intelligence (16)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/emotional-intelligence) - [Leadership Development (16)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/leadership-development) - [Business (15)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/business) - [Conflict (15)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/conflict) - [Personal Growth (14)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/personal-growth) - [Team Building (14)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/team-building) - [Culture (13)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/culture) - [Growth (13)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/growth) - [Personal Development (13)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/personal-development) - [Self Improvement (13)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/self-improvement) - [Self-awareness (12)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/self-awareness) - [Teamwork (12)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/teamwork) - [Business Strategy (11)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/business-strategy) - [Life Lessons (11)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/life-lessons) - [Motivation (11)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/motivation) - [Productivity (11)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/productivity) - [Coaching (10)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/coaching) - [Business Transformation (9)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/business-transformation) - [Conversations (9)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/conversations) - [Development (9)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/development) - [Covid-19 (8)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/covid-19) - [Roles (8)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/roles) - [Teaching (8)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/teaching) - [Change Management (7)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/change-management) - [Collaboration (7)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/collaboration) - [Family Dynamic (7)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/family-dynamic) - [Hard Work (7)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/hard-work) - [Stress (7)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/stress) - [Trust (7)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/trust) - [Efficiency (6)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/efficiency) - [Engagement (6)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/engagement) - [Facilitation (6)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/facilitation) - [Handling Emotion (6)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/handling-emotion) - [Accountability (5)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/accountability) - [Career Advice (5)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/career-advice) - [Careers (5)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/careers) - [Decision-Making (5)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/decision-making) - [Difficult (5)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/difficult) - [Goals (5)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/goals) - [Investment (5)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/investment) - [Leadership Coaching (5)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/leadership-coaching) - [Mindfulness (5)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/mindfulness) - [Purpose (5)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/purpose) - [Structure (5)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/structure) - [Values (5)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/values) - [Confidence (4)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/confidence) - [Coronavirus (4)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/coronavirus) - [Crisis (4)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/crisis) - [Energy (4)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/energy) - [Innovation (4)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/innovation) - [Mental Health (4)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/mental-health) - [Mindful Leadership (4)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/mindful-leadership) - [Technology (4)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/technology) - [Time Management (4)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/time-management) - [Awareness (3)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/awareness) - [Barriers (3)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/barriers) - [Boundaries (3)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/boundaries) - [Career Woman (3)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/career-woman) - [Cope (3)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/cope) - [Difficult Conversations (3)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/difficult-conversations) - [Identity (3)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/identity) - [Motivational Maps (3)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/motivational-maps) - [Top 5 (3)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/top-5) - [Artificial Intelligence (2)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/artificial-intelligence) - [Cognitive Waste (2)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/cognitive-waste) - [Commitment (2)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/commitment) - [Delegation (2)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/delegation) - [Habits (2)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/habits) - [Listening (2)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/listening) - [Machine Learning (2)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/machine-learning) - [Meetings (2)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/meetings) - [Problem Solving (2)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/problem-solving) - [Resilience (2)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/resilience) - [Resolutions (2)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/resolutions) - [Self Help (2)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/self-help) - [Self-Care (2)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/self-care) - [Self-Esteem (2)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/self-esteem) - [Wastes (2)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/wastes) - [Ambiguity (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/ambiguity) - [Anxiety (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/anxiety) - [Brexit (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/brexit) - [Entrepreneurship (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/entrepreneurship) - [Feelings (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/feelings) - [Groupthink (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/groupthink) - [Health (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/health) - [Human (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/human) - [Hybrid Working (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/hybrid-working) - [Ideas (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/ideas) - [Inappropriate Processing (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/inappropriate-processing) - [Letting Go (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/letting-go) - [Marketing (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/marketing) - [Mediation (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/mediation) - [Meditation (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/meditation) - [Millennials (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/millennials) - [Mindset (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/mindset) - [Money (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/money) - [New Year (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/new-year) - [No Deal (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/no-deal) - [Peter Drucker (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/peter-drucker) - [Power (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/power) - [Process (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/process) - [Reflection (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/reflection) - [Resource Constraints (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/resource-constraints) - [Resources (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/resources) - [Self-Reflection (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/self-reflection) - [Succession (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/succession) - [Tips (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/tips) - [Webinar (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/webinar) - [psychological flexibility (1)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/psychological-flexibility) [See all](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/when-experience-is-helpful-and-when-it-is-not#) ### Subscribe here! ### Links [Why Alembic?](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/why-alembic) [Resources](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/resources) [People](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/our-people) [Contact Us](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/contact-us) ### Connect ### Our Partners [![FBU Logo](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/FBU%20Logo-RED-01.png?width=596&name=FBU%20Logo-RED-01.png "FBU Logo")](https://www.familybusinessunited.com/) [![Mindshop Logo](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202023-07-03%20at%2017.03.08-1.png?width=3196&name=Screenshot%202023-07-03%20at%2017.03.08-1.png "Mindshop Logo")](https://web.mindshop.com/) ### Site credentials Copyright © Alembic Strategy Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Company registered in England and Wales number 10002766 ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=1067564&fmt=gif)