How to Handle Criticism Like a Boss - 4 Steps You Can Take to Start Being Heard

 

When we think of criticism, our first impression might be that it’s something negative. People who are critical are often singled out and told to leave the building. In a perfect world, this wouldn’t apply to us. However, the world we live in is not a perfect world. When you’re in business or an organization you need to prepare for criticism like other people. But how to handle it when it comes? Here are four tips on how to deal with criticisms in a way that makes the person leaving feel heard and inspired rather than criticized again.

Define the Criticization and What’s Being Criticized

When someone tells you to “cut it out,” “stop,” or “that’s enough,” they’re not just saying it. You’re doing something wrong. You’re being too hard on yourself. In fact, the person who said those things could be feeling the same way as you: frustration with their own inability to do something. It’s easier to cut someone some slack when you’re both in the same boat. But when it comes to criticism, you have to clearly define what it is you’re being criticized for and why. Because then you’ll know whether you need to back off or if you need to rant and rave. In other words, the person who’s giving you the criticism needs you to understand why they’re being critical. This is especially important when dealing with younger people. Most of them don’t fully understand the weight that comes with criticism and how it can affect them. They may be afraid of being labeled a nit-picker if they point out something as a “glitch” in the system. So, before you start giving away secrets about how to run the company or the organization, explain to them why you’re being critical. You may learn a lot from this. Most people are really good at “selling themselves” even when they don’t have to.

Ask for Feedback

Feedback isn’t always good feedback. Most of the time, it’s just giving you more criticism. But when you ask for feedback and it’s not offered, you’re actually communicating that you don’t need it. You need to remember that people are going to be critical of you even when you don’t deserve it. If they know you’re not gripping and whining about how they’re “terrible” but just being true to themselves, you’re going to be fine. But if they don’t offer any feedback, ignore it. They haven’t wasted your time. And if you have to ask for feedback, probably something isn’t right.

Be Vulnerable

This is the tough one. Some people are actually really nice and want to help you. They just don’t know how to start the conversation. You have to be ready to open up and take the feedback. Most people are going to be honest, but sometimes you have to ask for it. This is going to be hard, but if you want to grow and move forward, you have to be vulnerable. If someone didn’t like the way you won last year, they can still like you this year. If they didn’t like the new campaign, they can still like your old one. But they have to let go of the past so you can move forward. If they want to hold onto the past, they’ll feel stuck and stuck is harder to get over. Vulnerability is the ability to let go of the past and be present with the here and now.

Don’t Be afraid to Ask for Help

We’ve all been there: You’re on a design project and you’re stuck with a deadline. You call yourself an expert and you know how to do everything. Your team tells you to “just do it.” They don’t know how to do it either and you’ve cut corners on everything. You feel like a fraud because you know how to do everything wrong and everyone on your team knows how to do everything right. You feel alone and frustrated. You call someone who you trust and ask for their help. They tell you to “suck it up, buttercup” or they can show you how to “raise your game.” They may not be an expert in the field but they know how to help you. Help is never a criticism. It’s an opportunity to show you can do something better.

Conclusion

If you’re feeling stuck, lonely, or fed up with people not hearing what you have to say, this article is for you. There are a few ways you can handle criticism and make the person leaving feel heard and inspired rather than criticized again. When you’re in business or an organization you need to prepare for criticism like other people. But how to handle it when it comes? Here are four tips on how to deal with criticisms in a way that makes the person leaving feel heard and inspired rather than criticized again.