6 Ways to Deal with Criticism at Work

I was recently recommended this great article by a coworker of mine and thought I would pass it along to all of you!  Alina Dizik discusses 6 ways to deal with criticism while at work whether it comes from superiors or colleagues. 

Not all criticism should be seen as bad, as Dizik emphasizes throughout the article.  It can sometimes be interpreted the wrong way or seen as an attack instead of advice given by superiors or colleagues.  Below are some of the ways Dizik suggests you deal with criticism at work:

1. Take time to really listen – Don’t shut off the person as soon as you hear criticism coming your way.  Truly try to listen to the person and take an objective stance on what they are saying.   
2. Ask questions – Asking questions can help you better clarify the situation.  Ask for examples of how you can improve or what you can work on.  Asking questions allows you to find out if the feedback is negative and useless, or is a critique yet useful.
3. Don’t get defensive – It can be hard to get criticized.  No one likes the feeling that they aren’t doing as well as they should be or aren’t working up to someone’s standards.  But be sure to give your critiquer a fair chance to express themselves.  They obviously felt it important enough to bring up to you, so you should hear them out and take in to account what they are saying instead of jumping into defensive mode the second you hear a critique.
4. Stay calm – This falls along the lines of number three.  Hear the person out.  You can be angry outside of work when discussing the incident.  Don’t lash out or you may regret it the next day.  Staying calm helps you appear professional and collected even in the heat of the moment.
5. Determine if it’s accurate – After you are critiqued, take some time, perhaps the rest of the day and night to think about what was said.  Speak to others in the office or at home to get outside perspectives and to help evaluate the accuracy of the critique.
6. Address the problem – This should always be the main focus of criticism at work.  There needs to be a solution to whatever the problem may be.  Work to find a solution so that it is not affecting the environment within the company, or success outside of the company.

Dizik brings up some good points within the article.  The main one is to stay calm, think the criticism through, and work to solve it.  You at some point in your life will face criticism, and it’s important to understand how to handle it so things do not become worse.  To read the entire article, click here.