Like it or not, you are going to face criticism at different times throughout your professional career. You have the choice of sulking and complaining, or taking a more positive approach. And that is the suggestion of Josh Womack in a quick-read article for fast company (find it here).
In his article, Womack draws on his professional network to give us 5 tips on how to get more comfortable with criticism. The full article is quick to read and has more detail, but a quick summary of the 5 tips follows:
- Learn when to trust you own judgement
As Womack says, you know your work better than anyone else, so be selective about whose feedback you take to heart.
- But accept that you’re not always right
You judgement will improve with age and just admit that you are not perfect and will sometimes be wrong.
- Acknowledge that no matter what, you won’t be able to please everyone
But that doesn’t mean you are a failure.
- See it as an opportunity to produce better work
When people provide feedback, it means they are engaged with the material and want to see you improve
- Don’t take it personally
Sometimes the criticism is nothing to do with you, but has just pushed the buttons of the other person because of the issue. That’s not necessarily your fault.
So give this a try next time you face criticism, and see if you can turn the negative into a positive.
Dr Warrick Long, Senior Lecturer and
Postgraduate Leadership Studies Coordinator