Tips for Dealing with Constructive Criticism at Work

It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do, or where you work - you’re going to face constructive criticism at some point in your life. And, if you’re reading this, you’ve probably dealt with it at some point already or are trying to deal with it now. Constructive criticism is not a bad thing - it's a way for you to grow, recognize your shortcomings, and improve the quality of your work. By properly recognizing constructive criticism and also learning ways in which to deal with the confusing emotions that follow - you can improve your overall performance and also will be so much easier to manage. Check out our constructive criticism tips on how to handle those awkward conversations...

  • Quell Your Initial Reaction- Okay, someone comes to you and tells you they want you to change a part of your work because of A, B, and C. You’re mad. You’re sad. You feel embarrassed or as though you can’t perform your job to the tier your co-workers expect. STOP. Before you start to think all of those things and feel all of those feelings and begin to react...just stop. Quell those initial emotions and feelings and stop them in their tracks. Getting all worked up over someone’s honest feedback reflects poorly on you and will make people hesitant to be honest with you. You want your best work presented right? Well, sometimes your co-workers or superiors expect more from you and you deserve to know when they feel as such!

  • Remember its Intent- After you have your emotions under control, be logical. Remember why and who is telling you these critiques. Odds are, they’re a member of your team - teammates work together for a common goal, remember? They shouldn’t want you to fail or be hurt by their words so don’t let that affect take hold. Nine times out of ten they’re telling you these things because they care and they don’t want you to share work that isn’t top tier. Constructive criticism is supportive (if done properly) and oftentimes the criticizer offers some sort of resolve for you or even offers their assistance! Remember what is being said, why it’s being said, and who is saying it - don’t let this one comment wreck your day.

  • Consider Your Faults/Errors - Why are you Defensive?- Once you’re calm and remember the intent of the conversation - reflect. Look back on your work with a critical, unbiased eye - what do you see? If you’re getting defensive, why? Is there something in your work that could be better? If you’re writing a blog did you hit word count? Are there errors? Did you accurately depict a topic? See where you messed up - nothing is perfect and everything could use a tweak here.

  • Listen to Understand, NOT to Respond- When someone is giving you constructive criticism or feedback you should listen. But listen to understand the feedback, not to respond or defend. Really try to see where you went wrong from their perspective and make it a point to understand the comments fully so that you can take those comments for yourself and use them in such a way that benefits you. And, don’t forget to say thank you! You should appreciate constructive criticism - it’s meant for your benefit so when someone tells you something that’s supposed to help you, you should thank them.

  • Ask Questions to Improve- Okay, so you heard the feedback, you see your faults, you’re ready to work, but you’re still kind of confused. ASK QUESTIONS. If someone is telling you something and you don’t understand or you want more guidance - ask for help. Ask how you can improve, what you could’ve done differently, or how to prevent this from happening in the future! It’s really easy to just ask and, most of the time, superiors appreciate those who ask questions! It shows that you care and you’re invested in the issue and want to find a solution - that’s admirable and your superiors and co-workers will take notice.

  • Ask for Follow-Up Feedback- To ensure that you’re fully grasping what you should do - consider asking for follow-up feedback once you re-do or edit your work. This way you can demonstrate your improvement and also get even more feedback if you’re making similar mistakes. It also gives your co-worker or superior another chance to have their eyes on your work before it’s delivered, posted, or shared.

If you find that constructive criticism really hurts your feelings and you have another way you would appreciate feedback instead - consider asking those with the feedback if there’s another solution. There are a bunch of different ways to receive feedback and if you try our tips and you’re still not on board - ask for a different method and express your desire for feedback... just done differently.

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