Constructive Criticism: How to Improve From Feedback
No one’s perfect, and even the best employees will get constructive criticism at some point in their careers. Never fear, though: that’s not a bad thing. Constructive criticism is important for everyone to improve, so that they can be the best version of themselves. Of course, sometimes feedback can be hard to accept, or it may be given harshly, which makes it harder to learn and grow. Here are some guidelines for taking feedback in a mature way and not letting it get under your skin.
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Constructive criticism isn’t personal (usually)
It’s so easy to tie your work to your worth. Then, when your work gets criticized, it feels like who you are is being criticized. That’s why it’s often so hard to accept feedback. We don’t want who we are as a person to fall short of what others expect.
In the vast majority of cases, criticism is meant to help you improve so you can do your job better. However, there is a difference between constructive criticism and someone simply trying to tear you down. It’s important for you to be able to tell the two apart.
In the case of valid criticism meant to help you improve, try to change your attitude about it. Practice seeing feedback like this as an opportunity to grow, not a setback.
Listen and stay open-minded
Your first instinct when hearing feedback might be to stop listening or get defensive. As I mentioned before, it might make you feel like you’re being attacked as a person. It feels like a bruise to your pride.
Instead of viewing it like this, listen to the feedback and stay open-minded about what they’re saying. Rather than coming up with a response first, dedicate your mental space to listening first, ensuring that you understand exactly what the person is telling you.
If the constructive criticism isn’t clear or you need further details, ask questions to gain the best overall understanding.
Apply the feedback and show improvement
After you’ve listened to the feedback and responded to it professionally, it’s time to apply it. Your first move should be to determine how you’re going to put the feedback into practice. Writing down notes and keeping them handy can help!
When some time has passed, make sure to follow up with the person to check your work. Even though you’ve taken the feedback and tried to work on it, there may still be some areas of improvement worth looking at.
Most importantly, taking feedback isn’t a one-time thing that you can forget about a day or two later. It’s something you have to work at consistently. Simply improving your work once and then returning to your old ways defeats the purpose of constructive criticism.
Taking constructive criticism doesn’t have to be painful. It can be a great way to improve your work and show your boss that you’re serious about the job. Looking for a new job to grow in? Tempstar can help!