How To Accept Criticism At Work: 17 Professional Steps

If you have ever wondered how to take criticism at work, this article is for you.

It’s never easy to take criticism as a working adult. It’s hard not to take criticism personally, and it is even harder when you hear it a lot.

However, you can turn criticism at work into a source of growth and success with careful listening, the right attitude, and frequent self-assessment.

How to Accept Criticism at Work:

1. Try to minimise your emotional reactions.

It’s normal to get angry when you receive criticism, but try not to respond when you are unhappy. Take time to understand the context of the criticism and gather your thoughts before responding.

If you are in an awkward situation and are expected to respond right away, say something like, “Could you give me a minute to think about what you’re saying?” I will contact you as soon as possible.

2. Pay attention to what is alleged.

Criticism of any kind can be hard to take, but it is vital to pay attention to what’s being said so you can understand the problem and improve your work.

If a confrontation makes you scared or nervous, it is a good idea to ask that the criticism be given to you in writing (by e-mail or report) so you can understand it properly.

Make sure you pay attention and understand what is being said to you.

3. Refrain from getting defensive.

Even if you do not agree with what’s being said, it is vital to explore alternative points of view and concepts, particularly if you work in a subjective sector like the arts or politics.

4. Write down some comments.

It’s hard to take criticism, but it is much harder to face the same criticism again and again, so pay attention to what’s being said. Make note of certain things that interest you.

For example, if you just gave a presentation and your project leader particularly criticized the way you presented your conclusion, write it down so you do not repeat that mistake next time.

5. Ask questions.

Make sure you understand the criticism. If you do not understand what is wrong, you cannot improve. Therefore, ask for clarification or ask questions if you have any. Asking questions also shows that you want to improve and do the job right the next time.

Make sure you ask questions that are free and specific.

Don’t be afraid to seek advice. “How can I do better next time?” you may wonder.

6. Say “thank you” at the end of the conversation.

While taking criticism can be difficult, it’s still important to be grateful and grateful to the people who have taken the time to help you improve your work (1). Even if you do not feel grateful right now, you’ll be glad later that you said so when you realized how much your skill level has increased.

7. Start working on improving instantly.

Don’t waste time getting offended or distressed by criticism. Instead, get to work as soon as possible. Make every effort to incorporate feedback into your corrected work so you remember what was said.

8. Ask for a casual evaluation of your improvement efforts.

After you have made the change, or after you have done your best to make the change, ask your boss or manager to do a fast evaluation of your performance to be sure you’ve managed to fix the problem.

In this way, you not only show respect and a desire to improve, but you can develop and enhance your talents without the stress of formal performance reviews and the resulting conflicts.

9. Assume that somebody else is trying to help you.

Criticism is less complicated to take when we think that those giving it are just trying to help us improve our work.

If you think that others are criticizing you to bring you down or to make you feel bad, you’ll react with negative feelings and behaviors that will cost you and them.

Focus on aspects of criticism that you can learn from and improve on. Don’t worry about how the person expresses it or any other minor nuances.

10. Strive to be better.

It takes a lifetime to learn and master a skill or profession. Try to accept criticism because there’s at all times something you can do to improve your work. This is a necessary step on the road to success.

11. Be open to new ideas and methods of doing things.

You may be doing the task well, but the way you are doing it may not be right. Different people prefer alternative ways of doing things, and most tasks can be done in additional than one way. Be willing to consider other ways to attain your goals. This is the best way to learn!

12. Seek regular feedback.

It may sound counterintuitive – particularly if you hate criticism – but by asking for it, you put yourself in a position of power. Even if everybody seems proud of your work, you can go up to them first and ask questions rather than waiting for them to tell you what is wrong.

Consider asking yourself: “How can I improve this project?” or “How can I make this project better?” “How can I improve next time?” “Can you tell me how I can improve my performance?”

Asking for feedback helps you grow faster, which means you get promoted sooner, get a raise, or take on more responsibility.

13. Be willing to learn from your mistakes.

Criticism won’t ever go away if you keep making the same mistakes. It is better to make new mistakes and learn from them than to hinder your personal progress because you haven’t corrected previous mistakes.

Always approach a new job with previous criticism in mind to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

14. Always double-check your work.

Everyone is tired and deprived of attention, particularly at the end of the week or after a hard day at work. When you are tired, it is simple to make foolish mistakes, so check your work at least twice before submitting it.

If you are afraid of missing a mistake, ask a friend to double-check your work (2).

15. Evaluate your own performance.

Don’t wait for others to point out your flaws. Take time to evaluate your own work repeatedly. It pays to be your own worst critic. People will not must criticize you if you fix the problem before it becomes a habit.

16. Try to resolve the dispute yourself.

If you have trouble taking criticism from others, talk to them in a kind way. Explain your perspective and how their criticism has affected you.

If your boss keeps supplying you with more work but complains that you are running late, say something like: “I recognize my tardiness and I’m sorry, but I was having a hard time meeting the deadline when I got extra work I didn’t do.” do not at all times have time for.” Can we find a solution together? “

17. Write a report on the matter.

If you have made a concerted effort to be open and versatile but the criticism persists or seems unfair or unwarranted, you may need to report it to someone higher up. Avoid coming off as a “storyteller” and maintain a professional, neutral, and willing demeanor.

In a meeting with your supervisor, you might say, “I noticed that the reason I was late was because I had extra work outside of my regular duties. I hate letting my coworkers down, but I am unable to complete a task by the deadline if I do not have enough time to do it. Do you have any ideas on how to solve this problem? “

Thank you for reading this article on how to take criticism at work and I actually hope you take action on my suggestions.

I wish you good luck and that I hope that its content has been a good help to you.