Coping With Criticism in the Workplace

Many difficult situations arise when groups meet and people work together. Everybody is criticized on occasion at some point in their careers. Criticism often makes people feel hurt, angry, vulnerable, guilty or helpless.

However, it is how the criticism is managed and understood that makes a better employee. Criticism and the way people react can block communication and opportunities to work together. Hurt feelings and resentment do not foster a positive or cooperative environment. At its worst, criticism can have long-lasting negative effects on a relationship between two people or within a group. However, they are ways to take control of situations when we are criticized. A person can take the approach of developing leadership skills in order to cope with criticism. Or a person can chose to take the negatives and turn them into positives. People usually plan to criticize someone whether positive or negative. There are two types of criticism: destructive criticism and constructive criticism. Destructive criticism is meant to hurt or humiliate, belittle, manipulate or control, blame or create guilt or used as an attention seeking mechanism. The fact of the matter is, there are some people in the world who are not successful and miserable but would love to see other people affected by their opinions. However, once these types of people are identified, it makes an easier for the person who is being criticized to identify, focus and attain goals. On the contrary, contrastive criticism is meant to help, improve or make person aware of any limitations. Constructive criticism also expresses concern, clears the air and keeps the means of communication open.

When dealing with an average person, emotions take over when the person is criticized. However, hurt or angry feelings can get in the way of coping. Before a person can deal with a difficult situation, the person needs to bring their feelings into emotional balance. Coping techniques and ways to find balance consist of taking deep breaths, taking walks or isolation. With isolation the person is able to be away from the situation in order to think with a clear head. Coping with criticism or a difficult situation is easier when a person feels confident and positive. A person can develop a positive attitude by reminding themselves about positive qualities, learning from criticism, accept good intentions from criticism and always remain in control. In dealing with criticism after coping techniques, it would be beneficial to acknowledge to critic's words. In addition, admitting the truth allows the person to accept mistakes and faults without apologizing for them. However, the best approach would be asking for more criticism but in terms of feedback to examine and analyze.

In conclusion, criticism can be seen as a sign of progress. The fact is, if a person is not criticized enough then that person may lack progress in certain situations. At times, too much criticism means that the person being criticized is successful and making considerable progress