How to Confidently Take Criticism at Work

Dear friend,

In today’s letter to you, I will be answering the question “How to confidently take criticism at work ?”

Criticism at work often feels like a mirror, reflecting not just our performance but also our insecurities. It’s easy to dismiss feedback that feels baseless, but when it hits a nerve—especially one tied to imposter syndrome or self-doubt—it can feel overwhelming.

But what if the key to handling criticism isn’t just about how others deliver it, but also how you treat yourself?

Start With Self-Compassion

If criticism stings, ask yourself why, because most time: "The criticism that really gets to you is when it hits on something you already feel self-conscious about—something that triggers your imposter syndrome."

The solution? Start by being less critical of yourself. Here’s how:

• Set Realistic Standards: Hold yourself accountable, but don’t chase impossible ideals. Unrealistic expectations only set you up for disappointment.
• Be Honest About Your Abilities: Accept where you are today while striving for growth.
• Give Yourself Grace: Nobody is perfect. Treat mistakes as learning opportunities, not failures.

It's About the Work, Not You

The first step to handling criticism is understanding that it’s rarely personal. Here is something to consider : "It’s not about you, it’s about the work. And if it’s about the work, that’s not even yours—it’s the company’s. If it’s the company’s, then it’s on them to provide better training, clearer expectations, or more resources."

This mindset shift helps you stop internalizing criticism as an attack. Instead, view it as feedback aimed at improving outcomes for the team or company.

Separate the Message From the Delivery

Let’s be honest: many people, including supervisors, aren’t great at giving feedback. Their delivery can be harsh, vague, or frustrating. One tip? Focus on the actionable parts of the message, not the tone or method of delivery.

"Learn to separate the message from the delivery and focus on the actionable parts. Criticism is most useful when you extract the steps you can take to improve," 

Constructive vs. Demeaning Criticism

Not all feedback is created equal. Some criticism is constructive—meant to help you improve. But there’s also the demeaning kind, which can feel like a personal attack. Here’s how to navigate both:

• Identify the Tone: If feedback is constructive, embrace it. If it’s demeaning, don’t hesitate to address it calmly.
• Set Boundaries: Stop conversations in a calm manner and ask for a pause or reschedule when you don't like how you are being talked to.” This isn’t about avoiding feedback; it’s about ensuring the conversation is productive and respectful.

Separate the Emotion from the Work

Often, criticism has less to do with you and more to do with external frustrations. People giving feedback may be stressed, overworked, or simply having a bad day. A helpful reminder: "Most of the time, it’s never about you. They’re frustrated with a number of other things.

Deal With Criticism That Hits Close to Home

The hardest criticism to handle is the kind that amplifies your own self-doubts. For example, if you already feel insecure about a skill or performance area, external criticism can trigger imposter syndrome.

One powerful way to handle this is: "The first step to taking criticism better is to be less critical of yourself. Give yourself grace, set realistic standards, and love yourself. When you do this, criticism stops being something you dread and becomes something you look forward to."

Self-compassion isn’t about lowering your standards; it’s about being honest about where you are and striving for growth without beating yourself up.

Redirect to the Goal

When criticism feels personal, bring the conversation back to the shared goal. Here is a tip: "Always talk about what the goals are because it helps keep the conversation focused on the work as opposed to who did what and why."

This approach keeps emotions in check and reminds everyone that the objective is improving outcomes, not assigning blame.

Criticism as a Growth Tool

Ultimately, criticism should be a tool for growth. When you stop seeing it as a threat and start viewing it as an opportunity, you empower yourself to thrive. Here are a few steps to embrace criticism confidently:

1. Listen Fully: Resist the urge to interrupt or defend yourself immediately.
2. Clarify and Reflect: Ask questions to ensure you understand the feedback and take time to process it.
3. Focus on Improvement: Extract actionable steps and commit to implementing them.
4. Give Yourself Grace: Mistakes are part of growth. Treat feedback as a chance to do better, not as proof of failure.

When you approach yourself with kindness, feedback becomes less threatening and more constructive.

Thank you for reading today’s Solution Letter.

To Your Ultimate Success,

Yemi Solves