Hearsays and criticisms in the workplace are quite normal. Everyone seems to enjoy passing gossips and negative views around as a source of entertainment, but apparently, nobody wants to be the victim. When things get too personal, there are better ways to handle the situation professionally rather than getting to the bottom of it and fight back violently. In this article, we will discuss five ways on how to properly handle criticism from your colleagues, as we take inspiration from Luke Roxas.
1) Don’t Explode Like a Bomb
When you’re really hurt, it’s better to be silent about it when the issue is still up and rising. Negative criticisms often provoke anger and you won’t be able to express the right emotions. Handling the matter graciously is always best. The first step is to calm down and talk to the person spreading the criticism only when you’re ready. The right time is when you are already pacified and you can think objectively. It’s okay if it will take days; the important thing is to reach out with courtesy. Arguing back offensively will just put you more on the spot and it might reflect the bad character everyone thinks of you.
2) Get More Information
You might be only jumping into conclusions after hearing some inconsistent information relayed. If you can find time to be alone with the person, ask him or her for more information so you can better confirm, hear the truth and sort out the response at once. This heart-to-heart talk may settle the conflict and you don’t have to worsen the situation.
3) Offer Your Side
People who don’t know you well are those who often damage your honor behind your back. As a resolution, you can clear all accusations by offering to speak up your side of the story and get all things black and white. You don’t have to admit anything or tell upfront that you don’t like the criticisms being accused. There may be poor communication that happened that paved the way to different perspectives before. Make sure that the other person is able to rephrase what you’ve said to verify that he or she gets your viewpoint. When clarifications are done, you will see that your colleague would regret passing judgments on you wrongly.
4) Settle for Agreements
Acknowledging your weaknesses and shortcomings is a good way to settle and handle criticisms. Of course, you are only human and hence are capable of committing mistakes. A good point is to let these criticizers know that you are willing to learn and improve your attitude. This will pacify them and you will be able to understand each other’s grounds.
5) Reach a Compromise
Mutual irritation and resentment are the least you want to face. Making compromises is a logical route to go so you won’t be pressured to prove the criticizer wrong. You can invite your colleague to get your attention when you’re caught red-handed about the criticism mentioned. In this strategy, acceptance of the critique can do you justice.
The proper way to handle criticism is to think fair and act fair. It can be a really bruising experience that may damage your self-confidence. No matter how grave the criticisms are, don’t let them affect your work performance. Think of them as shortcomings of the critic rather than your own.