As Aristotle said, “There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” In everyday life, this is simply not possible, and each of us has to listen to criticism from time to time. Mutual exchange of opinions is a normal part of professional life, although different people react to it differently. If you can take criticism calmly, great! However, if critical comments make you feel more negative emotions, and sometimes even anger, read this article and learn how to take criticism in cold blood.
Calm, only calm
This good old Carlson saying applies to many situations, and especially to those when you are criticized. The natural reaction for many people to comments about their work is to be defensive, however, this is not the time to get emotional. Take a deep breath and slowly count to ten - when you calm down, your thoughts become much more logical and constructive. It may turn out that what the boss said and seemed like a personal attack is actually valuable advice.
Criticism is your opportunity to improve
It is not always possible to put an equal sign between the words "criticism" and "insult". Criticism - especially constructive and justified - can be a good reason for self-improvement, and it is worth listening to. If a colleague points out your weaknesses that you can improve, take note and remember that with enough desire, you can achieve much more than you think.
Ask clarifying questions
If you feel like you've been hit with an avalanche of reproaches, it might be worth asking the person who's criticizing you clarifying questions to understand what the real problem is. Often people express criticism, but forget to explain what needs to be done to correct the situation. Because of this, misunderstandings arise, and the recipient of criticism is either offended or remains in the dark. This situation can be resolved by asking the critic to justify their opinion - and explain how errors can be eliminated most effectively.
Make sure criticism is relevant
You will surely agree that criticizing the microwave for not being able to send SMS is stupid. It is equally stupid to criticize another person's work without understanding its essence - or to criticize for something that this person did not do at all. If you find yourself on the other side in such a situation and feel that criticism does not correspond to the subject matter, do not be offended and get involved in a quarrel. Such criticism may have little to do with reality and should not be taken personally.
Nobody is perfect
We all make mistakes, and even if you try to do your job as best and as carefully as possible, there is a chance that the result will not be perfect. So get rid of the belief that everything has to be perfect and work the first time. Excessive craving for perfection in everything will significantly remove you from the ideal result that you so much want to achieve. Also, by denying any criticism that doesn't fit your idea of how things should be done, you deny yourself the opportunity to improve yourself.
Calm, only calm
This good old Carlson saying applies to many situations, and especially to those when you are criticized. The natural reaction for many people to comments about their work is to be defensive, however, this is not the time to get emotional. Take a deep breath and slowly count to ten - when you calm down, your thoughts become much more logical and constructive. It may turn out that what the boss said and seemed like a personal attack is actually valuable advice.
Criticism is your opportunity to improve
It is not always possible to put an equal sign between the words "criticism" and "insult". Criticism - especially constructive and justified - can be a good reason for self-improvement, and it is worth listening to. If a colleague points out your weaknesses that you can improve, take note and remember that with enough desire, you can achieve much more than you think.
Ask clarifying questions
If you feel like you've been hit with an avalanche of reproaches, it might be worth asking the person who's criticizing you clarifying questions to understand what the real problem is. Often people express criticism, but forget to explain what needs to be done to correct the situation. Because of this, misunderstandings arise, and the recipient of criticism is either offended or remains in the dark. This situation can be resolved by asking the critic to justify their opinion - and explain how errors can be eliminated most effectively.
Make sure criticism is relevant
You will surely agree that criticizing the microwave for not being able to send SMS is stupid. It is equally stupid to criticize another person's work without understanding its essence - or to criticize for something that this person did not do at all. If you find yourself on the other side in such a situation and feel that criticism does not correspond to the subject matter, do not be offended and get involved in a quarrel. Such criticism may have little to do with reality and should not be taken personally.
Nobody is perfect
We all make mistakes, and even if you try to do your job as best and as carefully as possible, there is a chance that the result will not be perfect. So get rid of the belief that everything has to be perfect and work the first time. Excessive craving for perfection in everything will significantly remove you from the ideal result that you so much want to achieve. Also, by denying any criticism that doesn't fit your idea of how things should be done, you deny yourself the opportunity to improve yourself.