Being on the receiving end of negative feedback is something we dread. Especially those of us used to having everyone around them singing their praises. Whether you’re just having a bad day at work or made a bad judgment call with one of your responsibilities; there’s no escaping criticism from your superiors and colleagues sometimes. And while you have no control over criticism, you’re the ultimate master of your reaction to it; you’re the only one who can and should turn negative feedback into a positive experience.
Here are some tips on how to do that:
1. Don’t take it personally
Criticizing the last article you’ve written or that email you sent yesterday doesn’t mean you haven’t done anything right and certainly doesn’t mean anyone is criticizing you. No one is perfect, and no matter how good you are, you must make mistakes sometimes. How would advance and improve otherwise?!
Some people assume bad intentions from that colleague who didn’t like something about their work. While you can go on about that in your mind and stress yourself out, it will only hurt you and your job if you make things personal.
2. Listen carefully
If a colleague or superior has something negative to say, try to really listen to their comments even if you don’t have a high opinion of the person. Take it as an excellent opportunity to show capability to learn.
Don’t get defensive and prepare yourself with excuses, don’t interrupt or jump to conclusions either. It would be in your best interest to listen intently and paraphrase what you’re hearing in your own words to ensure your colleague that you’re genuinely listening to their remarks.
3. Ask questions
We’re never ready for negative criticism; and so we’re often nervous, upset, angry or impatient while we listen. This is the main reason we misunderstand sometimes.It would be beneficial to ask questions when you have a pause during the conversation. Asking questions shows that you’re already in problem-solving mode and help you understand what happened and how to fix mistakes or avoid making them in the future.
4. Be Grateful
There’s a huge advantage of receiving feedback about something that you didn’t do correctly; first it teaches you how to do things right next time and second it gives you time to bond with your superior through asking questions and learning from his/her experience. It can help strengthen your relationship and build trust. Imagine if no one takes the time to talk to you about your work; how else would you improve and gain expertise?
5. Keep calm
Being professional means you have to stay calm during discussions, even heated ones. Be careful not to lose your cool. Ask yourself whether the feedback upsets you or the way it is conveyed; often it’s the way things are said that upset us. If you have to vent, wait until you leave work.
6. Address the problem
When the conversation is over, try to tell your boss or colleague what you have learned from it and how you will be doing things differently from now on. Don’t just say “OK” to put an end to your bad day; it’s crucial that you take informed actions based on your conversation with your higher up as soon as you can.
By Shaden Abdulraman
