No-one wants to be criticised, in an ideal world there would be nothing but praise and it would rain positivity. Unfortunately, sometimes criticism in necessary. Not in a completely negative way, it can be constructive. That being the case, here are our top 10 ways to deal with criticism in the workplace:
1.Accept that you are not perfect – Although we all strive for perfection, the odd mistake can be made here or there. Leaving your ego at the door and opening yourself up to constructive criticism is very important.
2.Don’t take it personally – Criticism from a co-worker or employer doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t like you personally or they don’t think you’re good at your job. They’re just trying to ensure that you are performing to the best of your ability.
3.Listen – If you don’t listen to the criticism the first time you’re only going to end up making the same potential mistake again and find yourself being criticised once more. Taking on feedback and being able to adjust/make changes to your work is key.
4.Ask questions – Determine why the criticism has been made, ask for examples of the behaviour or work that has come under scrutiny. See what you can do to help find a resolve.
5.Stay calm – Don’t lose your cool, keep a level head and rationalise the criticism.
6.Analyse what you’ve heard – Process the information and think of ways you can avoid these problems in the future. Put an action plan in place.
7.Don’t hold a grudge – Don’t let one simple criticism affect your future work. Put it out of your head and work hard on your next task to show you’ve got the goods.
8.Don’t get defensive – Give the person a chance to express their thoughts. They might make a valid point that you may miss if you’re too pre-occupied within your defence.
9.Address the problem – Responding positively to negative feedback will help you to overcome such problems in the future. In addition, it will let your employer know that you are professional enough to handle a little criticism.
10. Clear the air – If you are unhappy with a criticism, let the person know. This way you can address the issue early, rather than letting feelings linger and contribute towards a hostile work environment.
How do you handle criticism? Do you have any tips or tricks that we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comments or tweet us @HPC_HRservices