How to make the most out of feedback and criticism from your boss

It’s important to remember that getting feedback at work is not always a bad thing, but if it comes in the form of criticism it can certainly be hard to process internally. Having the ability to process and use criticism and feedback to improve and ultimately thrive is something that takes time, but there are steps you can take to get there.

The most important thing you should do when you receive any kind of feedback from your boss, but especially criticism, is to not respond impulsively. Too often that kind of response can be perceived as defensive, even if it’s not meant to be. The best way to modulate yourself in a situation like that is to thank your boss for the feedback, assure them that you’ll take it to heart, and then take the time to reflect on it.

One thing you absolutely can, and should do at the moment is to ask for more information. Asking questions about the feedback and asking for further elaboration shows that you’re genuinely interested in what your boss has to say and are open to embracing their notes. Whether that’s getting more specifics on something they didn’t like or learning about how they came to a conclusion on something they think you should do differently, asking questions is one of the most important ways to show that you can handle feedback, both positive and negative.

You should also ask for time to process and implement the feedback once you’ve had a conversation with your boss. Especially when it comes to negative feedback, having the time to sit down and figure out how to improve can go a long way and it will make you feel less pressure in the long run. It’s better to take the time to reflect on feedback than to act impulsively on it.

Depending on what the feedback is, and the line of work you’re in, you should also sit down and figure out where your customer or audience fits in. Oftentimes feedback from a superior doesn’t just pertain to the way you do your job, but it also most likely centers on the consumer and how they’re impacted by your work. Especially in an age when people are being influenced more by social media ads and algorithms, having the ability to consider your market and audience in everything you do, regardless of industry, goes a long way.

At the end of the day, feedback from your boss should be looked at as an opportunity and not a criticism, even if the feedback itself is critical. Take it as a chance to make something better, and try your best not to internalize it. It doesn’t mean you’re not good at what you do, it just means there might be some steps you can take to improve in certain areas for the betterment of your organization as a whole. If you’re able to take a beat, listen, and appreciate what your boss has to say, you’ll undoubtedly be able to make the most of that feedback and make great strides in your work going forward.

— Article by Sean Kelly. In addition to being an analyst researching the latest industry trends for College Recruiter, Sean Kelly also co-founded a nonprofit local news publication in Savannah, GA called The Savannahian.