What do you do if your boss criticizes your work in a negative way?

When my boss criticizes my work negatively, I respond professionally and constructively. I listen attentively, seek clarification, and express gratitude for the feedback. Then, I take proactive steps to address any shortcomings, aiming to turn criticism into opportunities for growth.

It can be difficult to not become defensive or disheartened by negative feedback but honest reflection of our own skillset is critical for growth. Take time to reflect on the feedback given and what you can learn. If you feel you need more clarity ask for some additional time with your manager and be clear on what you want the output of the discussion to be. If you feel the feedback is unfair understand whether the issue is perception and how you can change that by providing solid examples of your successes. Understand you don’t have to be perfect and see everything as a learning opportunity.

Self-awareness is one of the most critical and fundamental traits to possess in professional and personal lives. Honest self-assessment can't happen without it. Being self-aware means understanding your strengths and weaknesses, recognizing how your actions affect others, and seeing how you fit into larger contexts or systems. When you lack self-awareness, you may have a skewed perception of your abilities and behaviors. This lack of insight can prevent you from identifying areas that need development or improvement. For example, without self-awareness, you might attribute failures to external factors rather than recognizing your role in the outcome, which hinders your ability to learn from mistakes and grow.

Show initiative by creating a plan to address the issues that have been raised. Set specific goals, seek additional training, or adjust your work processes. While your proactivity will benefit you here, however, you will also get an additional benefit—being open to negative feedback will lead to new learnings that you would not have been a part of if you had opted for limited communication.

If your boss criticizes your work negatively, address the situation calmly and constructively. ?? Request specific feedback to understand their concerns and identify areas for improvement. ?? Express appreciation for their feedback while also asserting your perspective, if necessary. ?? Seek clarification on expectations and discuss potential solutions to address any shortcomings. ?? Maintain professionalism and focus on finding mutually beneficial resolutions, fostering a positive and productive working relationship. ?? Consider scheduling regular check-ins to prevent misunderstandings and ensure alignment moving forward.

Two important things to consider: 1. Try to detach your self-worth from your work. Criticism about work is not a judgment of your value as a person. 2. Separate the “what” from the “how.” Sometimes, the way criticism is delivered can be upsetting. What you need to do is try to focus on the content of the feedback rather than its delivery. This will help you in accepting negative feedback.