Have an Overly Critical Manager? 12 Ways to Deal with Him Professionally|Drjobpro.com

"Employees quit managers, not companies" is a sentence we read and hear over and over in professional circles. It has been proven true by many situations that employees always recount where they face an inability to achieve career advancement, acquire new skills, or obtain promotion.

The problems are many, but the reason is one: the bad manager.

Today we are discussing one of the most prominent traits of this manager, which is "constant criticism."

So, if you struggle with working under an "overly critical" manager or generally have difficulty dealing with "negative criticism" in the workplace, here are some tips.

Have an Overly Critical Manager? 12 Ways to Deal with Him Professionally

How Can You Cope With "Criticism" Effectively?

That is challenging for many folks. We are all subjected to criticism, whether it is personal or professional. You can, however, know how to handle objections effectively!

It's essential to explain what "criticism," before giving you tips on how to handle it.

What Exactly Is Criticism?

To deal with "criticism," you need to be aware of exactly what falls under the concept of "criticism."

If you walk into a conference room and your colleague frankly tells you that your jacket doesn't look good .. that's an insult!

And if you walk into the same conference room and your co-worker tells you that "you're late three times this week and this indicates that you have trouble managing time... that's 'criticism.'"

In short, criticism is all about facts.

You'll learn twelve ways to help you cope with criticism effectively in this article.

Don't Take It Personally

Being in a workplace makes it inevitable to receive "criticism," and it's not a red flag on your accomplishments, skills, or prospects.

You always have to remember that if you are not adding value to the company, your boss will dispense you, and receiving criticism is a sign of a good performance.

However, the most significant thing you can do is pay heed, learn something, and maintain your composure. Refrain from interrupting or responding right away. The more feelings you can remove from the problem, the clearer your mind will be.

Detaching the criticism out of its personal context is a valuable mental skill. Consider what would happen if your supervisor didn't mention you or your behavior. If the advice was given to somebody else, would it appear legitimate or unjustified? Similarly, aim not to let your personal thoughts about your manager influence your response.

When you start to feel overwhelmed, inquire if you may talk about it later when you've had more time to answer questions.

Take Your Time

The excessive reaction is the worst thing you can do in response to criticism.

Moving out of it, becoming tied up in excuses, or having personal triggers all sorts of new issues.

Nobody wants you to have a handwritten note in your bag with all the pertinent explanations. Take a while alternatively.

For example, you can say, "Excuse me, can we discuss this matter later?" this will give you time to think about it and prepare your solid reasons, and it will give room to your manager to forget about being in the "ruler" part.

Deal with The Issue

If your manager frequently criticizes a particular aspect of your performance, such as your communication style, the best way to handle the situation is to resolve the issue immediately. Ask your manager if they are open to talking about some of the problems they've had, and find a way to strategize with them to resolve your concerns.

You can give him a real chance to make a point of view frankly, which will provide you with an excellent understanding.

Making an effort to solve the problem demonstrates your dedication to providing high-quality work and maintaining communication within the business.

Find How Your Manager Deal with Your Colleagues

It may be comforting to know that your manager's criticism isn't personalized if you recognize they aren't only judgmental of you.

If it's feasible and acceptable, observe the way your supervisor communicates with your colleagues.

Does he speak in the same way as you? Does he share the same grievances or demands? Maybe your manager is just fussy and doesn't care for anyone's work.

Therefore, understanding the manager's character and traits may make it easier than receiving constant criticism without convincing reasons.

Ask For a Mediator

Before starting the conversation, try to find a moderator if you think the conversation is prone to misunderstanding or need someone to find common ground between you and your boss.

Let your goal be to understand your manager's requirements. What went wrong with the project? What happened with your client? He gets angry? And when was the last time you were late and didn't realize it?

Often, the employee and the manager get involved in a lengthy discussion without an apparent reason for the conflict.

The mediator helps to bring the views closer and to come up with the best solutions.

Don't Hide

We all wish if we could hide in the sand while we receive criticism.

However, escaping from the situation is futile. What would you do if you managed to escape and then found that your clients were unhappy or your colleagues hated working with you?

Although it is difficult to deal with all the criticism, you have to do it.

Try to listen carefully, don't take it personally, and find solutions to address your problem.

This will help you in mastering new skills, overcoming many obstacles, and showing flexibility, which is a high-demand skill in today's job market.

Recognize Your Flaws

When you face your flaws directly, the chain of criticism ends. Dealing with a complaint effectively entails not suppressing it.

Are you running late because your little one is taking too long to get ready for school every day? It would help if you discussed it with your manager. You are not the only father in this situation.

Or did you get the job done the wrong way and realize it? Ask your colleague next time.

We all learn all the time.

Think About Tomorrow

Determining the best approach to dealing with your boss determines how you handle criticism. That can include setting a schedule to stick to, holding a training session, or developing a more effective strategy.

Although your manager should be clear about his goals, you will be responsible for most tasks. Set individual goals based on your own assessment of your skills and shortcomings.

Will you need more time to complete the task, for example? Or do you have to spend more time to make sure you fully understand the list of instructions?

Communicate Your Point of View

You don't just want to defend yourself through some excuses and reasons, but you have to defend your point of view and explain the reasons behind your fault. If you've missed a deadline due to a noisy office where you can't focus on the task on hand, explain this!

Consider Talking with The HR Specialist

If your manager's excessively critical behavior is bothering you, try reaching out to your organization's HR professional.

The recruiter can set boundaries between criticism and misconduct, and it will also help bridge the two points of view.

Take Your Opportunity to Criticize, Too

If you feel that your manager's criticism is unfair. You can make it clear that you are not responsible for that mistake if that is true, and your justification must be based on facts and material reasons to convince him.

You also have the right to criticize but do so politely and professionally.

It's Not Over

No, ending the situation doesn't mean that it's over. You have to learn from your mistakes and adapt your behavior to meet your manager's expectations. If you arrive 5 minutes late and find this irritates him, try to make your effort to arrive at work on time. Don't give a chance to anyone to criticize you.

Keep mistakes away, and criticism will stay away!

Bottom Line,

We don't live in a "utopia"... Just as your boss criticizes you, so do you criticize your colleague, friend, and son. Those who do not wish to receive any criticism must remain "silent" all the time.

However, the real problem lies in the "continuity" of receiving negative criticism, fair or unfair, detrimental to one's physical and mental health.

Therefore, identifying ways to face criticism and defend yourself and your work is a must.

You have to do your best to address the issue personally, find a mediator, or escalate it.

And if you want to look for a new job where a more productive work environment,