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What is the best way to handle negative criticism from your boss?

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Question added by Amal Brahmi , Primary teacher , Ajyal Alghad
Date Posted: 2015/02/16
Abdelrahman Jallad
by Abdelrahman Jallad , 3rd Officer , Zakher Marine International

Ignoring & turning the Negative Criticism Into A Motivation Criticism to succeed 

Deleted user
by Deleted user

(My role at work involves managing my team -- and so I am a bit biased to bosses! :) )

 

Key to handling criticism by bosses is to appreciate that bosses and other employees all share the same objective -- which is to accomplish great achievements at work.  Bosses are usually proud and happy to see their team members prosper and accomplish great things.  Their feedback to their team members usually comes from this perspective.

 

Employees who perceive that their bosses are criticising them because of personal (or other unprofessional) reasons usually handle the feedback very unwell.

 

Those who appreciate that their managers have their interest (and the interest of work) in mind, usually listen well, reflect on the feedback, analyse it, discuss it objectively, and work with the manager to agree on steps to handle the feedback.

Irina Ter-Grikurova
by Irina Ter-Grikurova , Business Development Manager , Geostar LTD Georgia

Once I attended a training about this unpleasant situation.

You can always leave because younmust not suffer in your job.

But it is always better you handle it because in your new job you dont have guarantee that it will not happen again.

So I will explain this method -it helped me many times, so I wish it helps you too.

People in communication play different roles.

It can be only3roles:parent, adult and child. 

When someone is giving negative criticizm ( in your case-boss) he is in role of parent,

automatically  respondent (critisized person) finds himself in role of a child

you are trying to protect yourself and he pushes even worse and worse

you can recognize this game by worlds" you never provide report on time" 

"you always make mistakes" " this presentation is totally bad"

in other words he generalizates -does not give particular details-just massage that whatever you do is bad. It never ends. 

Unless you you break this chain. For that you must force him to act like adult,

only way is you take role of adult and he can not act like parent any more.

example:you sent him your calculation20 megabites10 sheet excel workbook

he comments in ten minutes- your file is wrong!!!!!

ok, calm down and ask which sheet is mistaken and what makes him think it is wrong.

Or he comments-your presentation is bad!!! 

Ok, sit calmly, open your note book and take your pen and ask him to share his particular comments

ask direct question: particularly format, content or size of presentation is bad? Do you have comment on reliability of data?  What figure you find mistaken?

He will have to stop criticizm and -one can not play role of adult if there is no one to respond from position of child.In such case both of you are in role of adult

you begin to cooperate. 

 

It works also with customer. If he says your product is bad, don't protect your product immidiately-first clearify what he finds particularly bad in your product-price , taste, quality, packaging ?

with this tool you convert criticizm to feedback which is much easier to handle.

good luck to you!

Deleted user
by Deleted user

First of all you have to make sure if it is negative criticism or constructive feedback. If you are facing the first thing then a straight forward answer would be that you have to learn to live with it or find another job.

However, a much better thing that you could do is talk to the manager and tell him how you see things, how that negative criticism makes you feel and how it effects your performance, motivation and mood. A normal person would understand and try to change him/her self. If you are dealing with a less normal one, then see option1 above.

Emad Mohammed said abdalla
by Emad Mohammed said abdalla , ERP & IT Software, operation general manager . , AL DOHA Company

I considered skipping this question until I saw the sub-line.If you can't take it anymore: leave.Life is too short for grief or bad bosses.  This is one short answer.This may be a hard answer for a small organization or company, A larger organization might offer other jobs in different areas.  Chose your next boss wisely. Timing will have to be a problem that you will have to decide upon as well as loss of employment, etc.

I think many bosses try really hard to be helpful, but like the use of candor (only with helpful), feedback is generally best when it gives a balanced assessment and provides a pathway to to make changes that improve performance (e.g. "You stink" is not so helpful unless options like bathing, deodorant and washing clothes occasionally are offered up as options.)

People - me, and you too - generally are trying to do the best job they can. Sometimes, they just don't have or know of tools (think behaviors) that they could use instead of what's not working so hot. Think trying flat head screwdrivers on Phillips screws; it can work, but usually not so well.

Rahmat Ullah Khan
by Rahmat Ullah Khan , Administrative Asst , Trojan Holding

Be positive. ...  get positive. 

Abdel Moniem Saleh
by Abdel Moniem Saleh , CEO , DB MENA

First, Make sure that your boss is wrong. (It is very possible that your boss is focusing on "something else" than what you are focusing on). This matter should be discussed with your boss, clearly.

Second, "Prove the opposite!". Your positive acts should speak loud.

Third, if after that your positivity is not appreciated; then you deserve a better place.

IQBAL HOSSAIN
by IQBAL HOSSAIN , Hotels Manager , Divine Group

1 Negetive criticism is the thing to criticise to deparive you from your right. Highly paid staffs always face this type of criticism from his employers, because employer always try to give more benefit to those highly paid. 

2. It is fruit ful to avoid negative criticism to thank the criticiser, it will stop him to do this type of behavior.

3. Negative criticism is to undermine some one.

BICHISMITA SHASANI
by BICHISMITA SHASANI , Process Associate Grade-2 Officer , The Royal Bank of Scotland

Every negative criticism is an opportunity to enhance a positive aspect of ourselves. first of all, the person should be well aware of his/her own strength, weaknesses. secondly, she/he has to particularly examine the negative criticism in detail. if there is the scope for improvement then he/she should turn the criticism into an opportunity for development. and if the criticism sound invalid then the employee should ignore it at first place. however, if the negative criticism comes on a regular basis and seems baseless he/she should escalate the matter to higher authority.

Liqun Yi
by Liqun Yi , Sales Manager , Booming Optical Spectacle Factory

Firstly, you are allowed to be upset for a while, just to release your bad emotion and calm down; then think and analyze, what is the cause of this criticism(is it your mistake? If it is, you have to seek the improvement which will help you not only in your current job but also in future career development); or what kind of person your boss normally are( if he/she always is like that and that is the character, get used to it or run away, decision is yours, but never expect that others will change for you). Anyway, what you want is to better your work and life, so stay positive and optimistic; we have to always see the good side of things.

Deleted user
by Deleted user

There is two type for Manger : 1- only criticism for everything, and don't thank your efforts. This type you must to ignore him and do your best . 2- He criticizes you to get out your best ( constructive ). This type must use his criticism to improve your self , and doing your best

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