For many, it can be a challenge to deal with unsolicited feedback at work. You’re doing your job, as you normally would, and you suddenly receive some unexpected remarks about the quality of your work.
When these comments are compliments, we tend to accept them instantly. When they are more critical in nature, they can make us doubt ourselves, even if our performance is otherwise excellent. But you don’t want to miss out on good advice because you feel defensive.
Consider these tips to help you learn to deal with unsolicited feedback:
What’s the Source?
If your boss or someone else, who is a superior, gives you some feedback, then you probably should follow it. The people who pay you may want things done a certain way, even if you feel your way is better.
If you’re doubtful their way is really better, you might ask a a non-confrontational question like, “I’m curious about your process. Could you help me understand why you find it works best?”
What Is the Intention?
Feedback that comes from people who aren’t your boss or superior can confuse you. Are they trying to help you improve your work and prevent mistakes? Or are they the type of person who is bored with their job and likes to show off and try to do everyone else’s job?
In these instances, it’s good to consider their intention. You want to welcome advice from those who are trying to be helpful. They may have more experience and want to help you avoid challenges they’ve encountered in the past.
Figuring out someone’s intention is very subjective but might be worth spending a few minutes considering.
What Is Their Expertise?
It’s not unusual for people to have more opinions than experience. For instance, some might argue that a painting by Claude Monet looks a little blurry and should be more in focus. But most in the art world would say Monet’s painting style was game-changing.
Both opinions can be right but one has more authority than the other. Pay close attention to what the experts are telling you and maybe just smile at the those who offer more random opinions.
From the outside, people may think they know how to do your job but your expertise makes you see it in a different way.
Area of Growth?
When it comes to things where you don’t have a lot of experience, you want to welcome feedback. You can’t be an expert at everything and the chance to learn from someone is invaluable.
For some, you may need to lower your ego a little bit but it’s a welcome trade for knowledge that can make you better.
Traffic Cop Approach
A traffic cop pays attention to oncoming vehicles and then waves them in a particular direction. The officer doesn’t stare at the cars and trucks after they go by. The focus is on the next vehicle.
This can be the same way you deal with unsolicited feedback. Pay attention to the advice, consider if it might be useful, and then plan to act on it or dismiss it. Once you’ve considered the remarks, you live with your decision and move on.
You want to avoid a situation where you’re agonizing over a few words that may have been nothing more than someone’s passing thought.
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