How to Deal with Criticism in the Workplace?
The Importance of Communication Skills at Work
Workplace communication is the transmission of information from one person or group to another person or group. Workplace communication can either be face to face or it could be emails, voicemails, notes, text messages, etc.
In order to achieve productivity and efficient operations within an organization, it’s important to have good communication within the organization. Employees experience an increase in their morale, commitment and productivity when they are able to communicate up and down within the organization’s communication. In short, for an organization to operate smoothly and productively, workplace communication is essential.
Criticism is a life fact and also powerful when learned how to put it to use in the right way. At some point in a professional career, one would certainly receive criticism (positive or negative) either from a superior while giving feedback or from a client. What is important is to prepare yourself to receive any kind of criticism in the workplace.
In the workplace, if an individual points out solid inefficiencies and offers suggestions regarding positive improvements are considered positive criticism otherwise criticism in the workplace is considered destructive if an individual tears down and negatively critiques fellow workers actions and performance without any positive suggestion for improvement. Dealing with the latter situation effectively requires a calm demeanor and forethought.
5 Ways to Deal with Workplace Criticism
Here in this article, we share some ways to how to accept workplace criticism with grace and positivity.
1. Keep a Watch on Your Body Language
While offering positive criticism, pay special attention to your body language. Maintain a neutral posture. Avoid folding your arms, pursing your lips, eye rolls, or tightening your fists. Instead, keep your palms open either on your lap or on the table in front of you or a combination of both while maintaining eye contact. Also, beware of your shifting weight.
2. Ask Clear Questions
Turn your brain on and emotions off. It’s important that you disconnect the automatic emotional response to criticism. With an open mind listen to what the message is being provided in the criticism and utilize it as an opportunity for further improvement. When the feedback is perceived as a professional courtesy, it instantly gives you the opportunity to expand your skills, behavior, in general, your entire professional image.
Asking clear questions and advice from your peers and superiors regarding how to gain improvement displays your commitment and loyalty to the organization as well as your job responsibilities. Even if there is disagreement with the critique, keep an open mind to think differently. This way you can gain insight into how others see you with a different perspective than your own.
3. Acknowledge Your Faults and Take Active Steps
Listen attentively and objectively to the criticism and assess whether the critique is providing the truth. If any critique says that you aren’t punctual, never meet your deadlines, give in sloppy work or don’t contribute to team projects at all. Think over it and assess whether the claim made is true or not. If it is true, then acknowledge your faults and resolve and improve the shortcomings in your performance by taking active steps.
4. Respond Calmly and Rationally
Keep a check on your temper while responding to criticism. It’s easier to avoid a discussion when angry or frustrated. Therefore, a meeting can be called later with the person who criticized you so that both of you can calmly and rationally focus on the matter at hand.
5. Keep Personal and Professional Differences Aside
Usually, people consider their professional work/job as an extension of themselves. Therefore, they tend to easily take criticism for work performance personally. Remember, criticism is intended for your work, not you. Learn to keep your personal and professional differences aside when criticizing others and also try to separate yourself from your job responsibilities and duties as a person. Also, keep in mind that mistakes do to reflect anyone’s character.
