Should a Manager Learn How to Manage Criticism?
Are You Hiring?
Find candidates in 72 Hours with 5+ million talents in Maukerja Malaysia & Ricebowl using Instant Job Ads.
Hire Now
One natural part of leadership is to receive criticism. You are not genuinely leading if there's no one to criticise your leadership. As we all know, leadership is about doing what's in the best interest of the organisation you are serving.
A leader must be strong and objective to any criticism thrown at them because if they don't, their authority will weaken. The leader will start making poor decisions as they try to reestablish their leadership to themselves and others.
These four tips can help you manage criticism and improve your leadership:
1. Taking it personally never helps
Leaders are always told not to care too much about what people say. It does not mean that you should not work hard; it means that you should not take criticism personally.
A leader must be mindful not to get overly attached to their job and its issues. If you take criticism too personally, you will find it harder to be objective and meet the organisation's needs.
After all, managing criticism is an unwritten rule in the job description.
2. Think before you act
When we receive criticism, the first thing we should do is step back and assess the situation. Patience pays off.
You have probably seen many leaders act defensive when faced with criticism. They focus too much on their reputation and overreact.
Adversity can make or break you, but it essentially reveals who you truly are. A leader should practice patience when faced with criticism and stay composed. Criticism will come and go.
You need respect from your peers, and such respect can only come from your leadership skills.
.jpg)
Criticism is necessary if you want to improve yourself.
3. A leader should never play a victim
Some of us would pity ourselves when faced with criticism, but your employees will find it hard to respect someone who plays the victim.
A victim's mentality is not a leadership trait; it represents someone who lacks the mental fortitude to be in a leadership role.
When a leader plays to the victim narrative, it reveals their lack of maturity. Doubt will enter the employees' minds about the leader's ability to endure pressure, intensity, and uncertainty. No one wants to work for a boss that bends under pressure.
What a leader should do is own the criticism and turn it into new opportunities.
Criticism shows you what you should improve to be a better leader. Be an agent of change and turn the negativity into a platform to allow growth, innovation and endless possibilities.
4. You can turn criticism into an opportunity
Criticism is just a different way of saying "learning moments". A leader may not be perfect, but they should have an open mind to correct the course.
Leadership may need us to pivot, renew, reinvent ourselves. Even if we had past success, leadership requires us to invest in ourselves to be better and receptive to change.
There is a saying, "It's difficult to get to the top, but even harder to stay there." It is harder to stay on top because it is easy to become complacent. It is also hard to endure the critics that think you don't belong to be there.
In this situation, staying focused on our responsibilities will make it easier to deal with criticism, as there is no better way to shut down your critics than positive results.
One of the essential leadership qualities is being a good listener. Yes, it also applies when you are being criticised. Do not shut it down, and instead try to listen to what is being said.
Many leaders would rather deflect criticism instead of seeing it as a chance to learn from others. Listening to criticism is a responsibility that is not written in the job description, but it can make you a more trustworthy and effective leader if you manage it constructively.
You might be interested in these articles!
You Can Claim These Tax Reliefs for Year of Assessment 2020
HR Guide: Tax Clearance Letter, Form CP22 and Form CP22A
HR Guide: The Basics of Form E