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Ways to Take Criticism Well At Work
Negative feedback at work is never easy. Rationally, we understand that nobody’s perfect, but that doesn’t mean we like to hear about our imperfections from other people.
It's hard to handle criticism gracefully — whether it comes from a colleague, a direct report, or even your boss. However, the way you manage criticism at work can help you separate yourself from the crowd, and dealing with it effectively is a leadership quality.
That’s precisely why it’s so important to think about how you deal with professional criticism, both internally and externally. Here are tips on how to manage your emotions and reaction when you face criticism at work.
Don’t let the critics consume you.
It’s hard to absorb negative feedback without instinctively getting emotional, and in the workplace, it’s especially important to react as rationally as possible. If it helps, take a deep breath and wait until you have a bit of distance to think about the situation and criticism more clearly.
If it’s unfair or needs explanation, you still don’t need to respond immediately. Giving yourself some space can not only help you absorb the information but also give you room to plan a response. Nobody ever said that you can’t…
