3 Ways to Cope with Receiving Constructive Criticism at Work

So, if you’re anything like me when you’ve made an “oopsie-daisy” at work and are fearing getting “the talk,” you may have a terrible habit of not defending yourself. For me, when I get negative criticism, I tend to cower in hopes that the onslaught will end as soon as possible. Not anymore. Recently, during my monthly check-in with my supervisor, I turned things around. It's not perfect (T_T) but, it's better. Let me tell you what I did in hopes that it could help you out.

1) Promote Your Positive Feedback:
I keep a folder in my email inbox titled, "Praise," where I keep all written documentation of my good noodle activities! Not only is it great to have this for these situations, it helps during promotion/bonus season as well! Psychologically, it’s easy to overlook the good and dwell on the bad, but, keeping tangible examples of your impactful and valuable work, can remind yourself and key stakeholders of your professional value.

2) Constructive Criticism Goes Both Ways:
Employers are not perfect by any means, especially when you bring the pandemic into it. For me, there were many instances where I was ~left behind~ But, in true Corporate America fashion, they won't admit that! So I have to juggle letting them know about themselves while still staying employed, and you probably have to as well. Similar to the tip above, I also keep a folder in my inbox titled, “Receipts,” where I keep my paper trails. You never know if it may come in handy if you get thrown under the bus…

3) Take an Active Role in Guiding the Conversation:
Don’t be a passive recipient! Whether it means that you initiate the conversation, create an agenda, or bring up some of your talking points, taking an active role helps mitigate issues caused by not having any control. For example, if I didn't talk about my praises, it wouldn't have come up, which is disappointing. I’m learning that I own my career more than anybody else, including management, and I’m also learning that it isn’t fair. This is why I’m working to retire early so I can remove myself from these situations entirely. Until then, I will continue to try my best and make it clearly known that I do worthy work, even if I have a lot to learn.

We can’t grow without feedback of all kinds, so even though it may sting, we have to take situations like these as learning opportunities. Let me know if you’ve dealt with a similar situation in the comments!