Your manager questions your usual way of working. How can you respond with emotional intelligence?

When a manager questions our work, it can feel like we are being personally attacked. After all, we are the ones doing the work. Let's separate the two. You are worthy no matter what. Now, your knowledge and how you use it is different. How you do things, in what order, etc. and other details about your work are constantly changing and evolving. So keep an open mind and listen - you might actually learn something new that can be added to your work. And that is good!

Responding to Manager’s Questions with Emotional Intelligence At Zeafari, we emphasize the power of emotional intelligence in navigating workplace dynamics. Here’s how to respond when your manager questions your usual way of working: Stay Open and Receptive: Approach the conversation with an open mind. Being receptive to feedback shows that you are willing to learn and grow. Listen Actively: Let your manager express their concerns fully before you respond. Active listening demonstrates respect and helps you understand their perspective. Acknowledge Their Viewpoint: Validate their concerns by acknowledging them. You can say, “I understand why you might see it that way,” which shows empathy and openness.

If you feel that your manager's line of questioning is intrusive, then definitely pause. Then invite the questioning with the intent to understand their valid concerns and desired outcomes that your manager might have. Set intent to aim to find a common ground.

Una ESCUCHA ACTIVA y EMPáTICA te ayudará a comprender las necesidades de tu gerente. · Podrás valorar si puedes o no satisfacerlas de la manera en que las reclama. · Su feedback te ayudará a mejorar tu desempe?o y ser más creativo. · Podrás igualmente ofrecerle alternativas que tú sí puedes sostener.

The most simple way to help you respond calmly is to genuinely be curious about what they have to say. Remind yourself that the feedback is an opportunity for growth, not a personal attack. By being truly open and interested about their opinion tour brain will move away from threat mode and get into creativity mode, to look for solutions together.

Una vez abierto un espacio para la comunicación a través de tu ESCUCHA ACTIVA y EMPáTICA, es momento de trasladar tus puntos de vista. · Evita justificaciones y quejas innecesarias pero plantea tu metodología desde la calma, de forma clara y poniendo el foco en los beneficios de hacer las cosas de esta manera. · Explica cuáles son tus limitaciones para poder cumplir con tus cometidos óptimamente y a tiempo. · Ofrece alternativas creativas y espacios comunes de crecimiento basados en el respeto mutuo.

Ask clarifying questions to fully understand their feedback. You might say, "Thank you for your input. To better grasp your concerns, could you provide specific examples or more details on the issues you've noticed? This will help me understand the context and address the situation more effectively."

Establecer un vínculo saludable de respeto mutuo y crecimiento se torna indispensable para la realización de cualquier proceso de trabajo con éxito. Un gerente quiere resultados, buenos resultados. Intuirá que son posibles si le muestras tu intención de invertir tu tiempo, energía y disposición en favor de los objetivos comunes. Una crítica bien recogida con #InteligenciaEmocional en vez de con reactividad, puede ser el punto de apoyo óptimo con el que poder ofrecer alternativas y soluciones creativas. No lo olvides.

The whole discussion starts and finishes with agreeing on the common ground and common outcomes you both agree on. Once this is agreed upon, then it's just about addressing miscommunication and misunderstanding between the best methods to get the job done. It's important to genuinely invite feedback and seek to understand.

Acknowledge their concerns by validating their perspective. You might say, "I understand why you might feel this way and appreciate you bringing it to my attention. Your feedback is important, and I want to ensure we’re on the same page. Let’s discuss how we can address this and work more effectively together."