ABC news online recently carried an article by Bob Rosner, about office criticism –about differentiating between constructive criticism and a plain mean-spirited hassle by a co-worker. He offers some insights on evaluating whether someone is offering information that will help him do a better job…even if it hurts to hear it.
It’s a touchy, uncomfortable subject. It’s hard to tell, in today’s environment whether you just have a thin skin, or whether you’re under attack. Why? Because so many of us work in ”team” environments with a lot of interaction and feedback that isn’t just coming from the boss. Those who expect feedback only from the boss need to change their mindset – and fast!
If someone says, “I think this project would work better if John did x instead of y”, John can feel picked on, singled out and hurt. Or he can feel like it’s just give and take because he’ll have comments and feedback for others’ parts in the project. I think the answer is that it’s constructive if done respectfully, and that all participants can give as well as receive critiques, and that there’s a specific business purpose behind the comment or criticism.
Does anybody out there have an example of how criticism saved their skin, helped them to become better, or strengthened the bonds of a team?
» Handling the give and take between employees from ManagersRealm
I think that in the area of office criticism, there is a definite role to play for the manager. To me many of the co-workers will deal with one another in the same way the manager or team leader does.... [Read More]
Tracked on: March 21, 2006 10:38 PM | Permalink to Trackback