Navigating Public Criticism in the Workplace
We’ve all been there. You’re presenting a project, feeling confident and prepared, when suddenly a superior (or worse, someone who isn’t even your manager) throws a wrench in the works. They publicly criticize your ideas, question your authority, and leave you feeling flustered and embarrassed.
It’s a tough situation but it’s important to remember that your reaction can significantly impact your career. Here’s how to keep your cool and navigate this challenging scenario:
Take a deep breath (SERIOUSLY!!)
Deep breathing can help calm your nervous system, reduce stress hormones, and improve your focus. A calm body means a calm mind.
I like to do my four-leaf clover breathing… In for a count of four, out for a count of four, I repeat this as I trace a clover. It’s easy to get defensive or emotional in the moment but it’s crucial to maintain your professionalism.
If deep breaths aren’t for you, you can try to use other calming techniques like visualization, muscle relaxation, or other quick mindfulness exercises. Keeping your cool is key so that you can have a clear mind and react logically, not emotionally.
Acknowledge their concerns
Don’t immediately dismiss their criticism but acknowledge the concerns they brought up.
Actively listening to the criticism shows respect and really helps you to understand their perspective.
Restating their concerns will also help to make sure you heard and understood them correctly. Often you will find that when you restate them, the person may backtrack and change what they said.
Also, when restating, look for something you can agree with. Even if you don’t agree with everything that was said, find something that you can acknowledge. This way, it won’t seem as though you are jumping straight to being defensive but are open to feedback.
You could say to them “I appreciate you raising these points, I want to make sure we are all aligned on the goals and the approach for this project.”
Facts, facts, facts
Support your ideas with facts and data. If their criticism is based on inaccurate information, gently correct them. You could say “based on the data we have collected we believe this approach is the most effective.”
However, coming prepared to the meeting is important. Before presenting, anticipate any potential objections. Try to think of what someone might say that would be critical of your work before you present, this way you are prepared for rebuttals and already have solutions at the ready.
If relevant, using graphs, charts, or other visuals help to present data clearly and effectively.
Assertive, not Aggressive
It’s important to defend your work, but you must do this calmly and assertively. Avoid getting into a heated argument or raising your voice.
If possible, address the criticism privately rather than in a public setting. Maintain eye contact, use a calm and confident tone and open and welcoming body language.
Be solution-focused instead of getting defensive. With a focus on finding solutions and ways to improve the work, it will show that you are open and communicative.
Remember, how you handle criticism says a lot about you. Stay calm, professional, and assertive and you can navigate these challenging situations with grace and maintain your credibility.
Beyond the criticism, reflect. Constructive criticism can be a valuable learning opportunity. You can learn from it and know that you can only grow from these hard situations.
I’ve been in this situation at two different jobs. I was totally thrown off both times because I was honestly surprised that the person who did this, would do it. I always remain open and friendly with colleagues and it was surprising to me to be treated this way. What I learned was the 4 steps above. I learned that no matter the work I put forth in life, there will always be a critic. Always. You aren’t going to please everyone and no matter how hard you work to do things, there may in fact be a “better way.” Perhaps you may not have seen it. But, jumping to conclusions and reacting negatively can significantly damage your BRAND and impact your relationship with your colleagues.
What did I do? First, I walked out of the meeting immediately after and cried, because holy moly, that’s surprising and hurtful. Once I was able to gather my thoughts and pull it together, I reviewed my presentation, wrote down the criticisms, wrote down my thoughts, then I went to the person and talked to them. After that, the working relationship was much better and it didn’t happen again.
Why? Because I told that person that it was inappropriate to react the way they had and that constructive criticism is always welcome, but being rude about it is not. I also learned from it. I learned to be more prepared and focus on how to improve my own projects, presentations, and prepare for the worst. This way, when a critique occurs, I’m not so thrown off.
Every opportunity is a learning opportunity. If you’re interested in growing and learning, I provide different services on how to help you in the workplace! Reach out to see if my 1:1 coaching would be right for you.