How To Handle Criticism From A Boss
Posted on 14. Oct, 2009 by Matt Shelly in Self Improvement
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By Todd Bavol, The Job Search Ninja.
CEO, Integrity Career Transitions
Unlike some of the criticism which we might have to face from colleagues and co-workers, that which comes directly from the boss is normally intended to be constructive, and learning to accept is as such, and to learn from it, is crucial to professional development.
The trouble with any kind of criticism is that most of us tend, not only to take it very personally, but to see it as total condemnation of ourselves as people. In most cases, however, even if they are badly expressed, negative comments in any situation are usually only meant to refer to one of more aspects of our behaviour. In the workplace in particular, it is important to divorce personal feelings and to concentrate on precisely what is being said. If we run away with the idea that we are being totally condemned, we are more likely to overreact to the situation and less likely to learn from what we are being told.
Of course, criticism from a boss could be expressed at any time. It might come up during an annual performance appraisal or simply in the course of carrying out our day to day activities. Either way, understanding that the reason for his criticism is to help you to improve an area or areas of your work performance is the key to not letting it destroy your self-confidence and motivation.
Here are a few tips to help you keep your boss’ criticism in perspective.
1. Listen hard and listen objectively to the specific issues that are being addressed. Try to remove any personal feelings from the equation as your boss is not saying what he is saying with the aim of wounding you, but to draw your attention to areas of genuine concern. Remember too that he probably feels as uncomfortable in saying it as you do in hearing it, so focus on the issues at hand and, if possible, ask for his concerns in writing in order to avoid any misunderstanding.
2. Ask questions. In order to properly appreciate your boss’ concerns and be able to make improvements, you need to understand not only what you are doing wrong or could do better, but also the impact of that behaviour or action in the wider sense. Another reason why it is important to ask for detailed responses is so that you can feel reassured as to the justification for the criticism, and proof is something which any manager should be able to provide.
3. Don’t get defensive and never raise your voice, but instead look at the evidence that your boss presents to you and make a point of agreeing with him if you can see that you are at fault. Far from showing weakness or being an admission of defeat, being able to admit that you can see that some improvement or some change would be beneficial is a great strength which will only increase your boss’ respect for you.
4. Once you fully understand the issue, move your focus away from the problem itself towards potential solutions. What would it take for improvement to happen? Do you need any further training? Are you lacking in the resources to do things better or differently? Prepare an action plan which will address the relevant issues and discuss it with your manager.
5. Record progress against your action plan and review it regularly with your boss so that you can both see that things are moving in the right direction or agree any adjustments that might be necessary along the way.
Taking control of situations in which we are faced with criticism from a boss is extremely important because without this there is the tendency for us to feel victimized and to behave unprofessionally. Accepting that we are not perfect and working to improve our performance, on the other hand, demonstrates maturity and leaves room for greater professional growth and development.
For information about career products and services, visit www.integritycareertransitions.com. You can also follow The Job Search Ninja on twitter at, www.twitter.com/jobsearchninja, for great career advice.
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