“Can you redo this? It’s not really up to scratch.”
“I need this document to be completed thoroughly than usual – and on my desk by the end of the day.”
These are just some examples of criticism you might receive in the workplace. These sorts of situations, when your boss criticizes your work, can be really difficult to maneuver around. How do you know when to stand up for yourself? How do you know when it’s time to pull your socks up?
Be professional and proactive
In any workplace situation – no matter how delicate – the most important thing is to remain professional. It really helps to take a deep breath and try not to become overly defensive.
The most important aspect of handling criticism is to exhibit professionalism. Take a deep breath, remain composed and do not become defensive. If you notice yourself starting to exhibit any assertive behaviors after receiving criticism, take yourself away from the situation if possible.
Some golden rules for when someone criticizes you at work
- Ask yourself if there could be any truth to the criticism
Try to be as self-aware as possible. Have you heard it before? According to Kathleen M. Sturgess, a professor at the University of Phoenix and a mental health professional, you should “view the criticism constructively as a growth opportunity. If you feel it is unwarranted criticism, absorb it and, at a later time, ask for a meeting to discuss your concerns calmly and professionally,”
- Empathize with and evaluate the messenger
When your boss criticizes your work, try to think about how the situation looks from their perspective as a manager. Evaluate what area the criticism addresses and how the critic is qualified to help you overcome the problem.
If you take criticism as a learning mechanism, and can get your ego out of the way, you’ll be able to avoid any catastrophic thinking. Don’t jump to any conclusions about what the criticism means. But putting right the problem, you’ll be able to prevent any of the disasters your mind might have conjured up.
- Try to improve
Once you have analyzed whether the criticism can help you improve. Create an action plan. Here, you should identify ways to fix the problem and establish some goals for yourself. It’s often best to keep these goals incremental so that you can monitor your progress regularly.
If you genuinely disagree with the criticism, it is okay to state so. Discussion in the workplace is healthy – as long as it is undertaken politely and professionally. You can acknowledge the feedback without accepting the liability (e.g., "Thanks for the input. I can't say I agree with your opinion, but I appreciate your concern").
How to avoid criticism at work
Criticism isn’t a bad thing, but criticism delivered in a negative way is. A good tactic to pre-empt toxic exchanges is to meet with your boss early on in your relationship and discuss how you want to communicate with each other. During this discussion, “set a ‘contract’ with your manager on what is considered appropriate and inappropriate feedback,” advises Bruce Avolio, Ph.D., executive director for the University of Washington’s Center for Leadership & Strategic Thinking at the Foster School of Business.
Keeping these golden rules in mind when someone criticizes your work will help you maintain a healthy work-life. When your boss criticizes you, you should try and see it as an opportunity to self-improve. “It’s not up to scratch” could be the prompt you needed to produce your best bit of work ever.
And, if you genuinely can’t see the problem, remember: always stay polite and professional. An office argument never helped anyone.
