5 Ways To Help You Handle Criticism

A senior leader in a meeting told me that feedback is a gift. How can you ever improve if you don’t know where you need to shore up your skills or work habits? That’s some of the best advice I’ve ever gotten and it has changed the way I think about negative feedback.Now I use that line on my teenage daughters. I’m not so sure they think feedback is a gift… just yet. Many people get defensive or sad when they’re criticized at work. In many cases, the workplace has no feedback culture in place and people are not trained to give or receive criticism in a constructive manner. Giving and receiving negative feedback constructively takes a LOT of practice!

The best way to receive negative feedback well is to follow these 5 steps.

* Assume good intentions

Unless proven otherwise, assume good intentions. Don’t automatically jump to the conclusion that the person criticising you is “out to get you.” Of course, sometimes they are. If so, see below.

* Do not get defensive and start making excuses

Instead you might say what you’ve learned and what you will do differently from now on.

* Don’t take it personally

Remember that they’re criticizing your work, not you as a person. Never take negative feedback about your work as a criticism of you as a person.

* See criticism as help

Remember that all constructive feedback (including negative feedback) is a sign of interest and a sign that people want to help you do better. It would be far worse for people to notice you doing bad work and not say a word.

* Don’t be too hard on yourself

Remember that everyone makes mistakes and has things to learn. Yes, that includes you. There’s nothing wrong with making mistakes, but making the same mistakes over and over because you refuse to listen to criticism and learn is just stupid.