On the Job: Backbone

One of the unsavory sides of work is criticism. Some employees are luckier than others, but I doubt few escape the working world without their ideas and job performance being criticized at least a few times. Some criticism is easier to take than others, but it helps to develop a backbone.

While most criticism is meant to be constructive, it is never a fun experience. It causes you to second guess your work and skills. Sometimes, the attacks can seem personal. When it comes to criticism, it helps to develop a backbone.

Having a backbone takes two forms:

• First, it allows you to hear criticism without becoming defensive. More often than not, criticism is meant to help your work and is not meant to put you down. In this instance, having a backbone will let you hear your colleagues arguments without causing you to become a nervous wreck.
• In the second case, having a backbone means being able to stand up for yourself. If you strongly believe that your work is accurate or your arguments valid, then having a backbone will let you stand up for your actions and ideas. It is good to be able to argue for why you acted a certain way.

Developing a backbone takes time. Criticism, even when it is clearly not personal, can hurt. You worked hard, and now someone is telling you that you're wrong or could do better. Yes, those words can hurt. Try to take them in stride. The more you listen to criticism, and take in it's benefits, the stronger your backbone will be. Just remember that everyone has been in your position before.