You receive harsh feedback from your superior. How will you handle your emotional reactions effectively?

Writing down negative feedback immediately, becomes an pause - as your brain is busy writing , hopefully that can prevent you from reacting immediately. Writing also allows you to process the information step by step.

Your initial reaction might be defensive, but resist the urge to respond immediately. Take a few deep breaths to calm down and regain perspective. When I first received harsh criticism about a project I was passionate about, my initial reaction was defensiveness. However, I took a few minutes to collect myself before responding.

When you receive harsh feedback from your superior, it is natural to feel a mix of emotions such as anger, frustration, or disappointment. However, it is important to take a moment to reflect calmly before reacting. This can help you gain perspective on the feedback and avoid making impulsive decisions or saying something you might regret later. Try to take deep breaths, step away from the situation if needed, and give yourself time to process your emotions before responding.

Once you've calmed down, reflect on the feedback objectively. Focus on the message, not the delivery. Is there any truth to the criticism? Try to separate your emotions from the facts. After taking some time to reflect, I realized that there were valid points in the feedback about the project, and I could see how my approach could have been improved.

We should use harsh feedback as a mirror to reflect and adjust! It's an opportunity to identify blind spots, fine-tune our skills, and align ourselves with expectations. By embracing feedback with humility and a growth mindset, we can polish our performance, boost our confidence, and shine brighter in our roles. Remember, feedback is not a criticism of who we are, but a chance to become the best version of ourselves!

Don't be afraid to ask for clarification. Understanding the specific areas where you need to improve will help you create an effective action plan. I asked my supervisor for specific examples of where I could have handled the project differently, which helped me identify clear areas for improvement.

Ask for Specificity If a superior gives you negative feedback like, saying you are not easy to work with, That's damn hard to swallow. Ask them to be specific. " Can you share 2-3 situations where you found me hard to work with " " What did I do in these situations that made it hard for you to manage me" This can help you see the picture from their perspective. And they will appreciate your intentions

Take ownership of your mistakes or areas where you could have improved. Avoiding blame and focusing on solutions will demonstrate maturity and professionalism. While I still felt disappointed about the feedback, I acknowledged the areas where I could have done better and took responsibility for my actions.

If you agree with the feedback , make your boss a stakeholder in your improvement. Update her on a regular basis on how you are overcoming your challenges. Ask them to mentor you in this area. Build an action plan together and execute it with their inputs.

Develop a plan to address the feedback. Set specific goals and timelines for improvement. Share your plan with your supervisor to show your commitment to growth. Based on the feedback, I created a plan to improve my project management skills by attending relevant workshops and seeking mentorship from experienced colleagues.

Don't let the conversation end after one feedback session. Continue to check in with your supervisor to discuss your progress and seek further guidance. This demonstrates your commitment to growth and builds trust. I scheduled follow-up meetings with my supervisor to discuss my progress and seek additional feedback, showing my dedication to improving my performance.