Author: Devin Brady

20+ years as a sales leader/trainer/coach/manager- father & husband. I simply enjoy the continual pursuit of learning to help gain the edge in all facets of business and sales success. What I learn that works, I like to share. You are invited to join in on the journey by subscribing and by sharing your comments. Thank you for visiting!

8 Easy Ways to Boost Your Career

You can make great strides in your career without spending long days and nights at the office. Advancing your career is the result of several small strategies. While none of these is likely to make a significant difference by itself, when combined, the results can be impressive.

Boost your career and increase your paycheck with these strategies:

Be reliable. We’ve all worked with the employee that couldn’t be trusted to deliver results. He was the one person that you knew wouldn’t be able to keep his promises. Avoid establishing a similar reputation. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. Be 100% reliable at all times.

Be on time. Whether it’s for work or a meeting, always be on time. Do you control your time or allow it to control you? Avoid being too early for meetings. You’ll appear to have too much free time. Five minutes early is perfect. Always have your work done on time. Give yourself the opportunity to impress. If you can have something done by Wednesday, tell your boss it will be done on Friday and turn it in early. Consider that most people do the opposite and get themselves in trouble.

Dress for success. Many promotions are given to the candidate that looks the part. Always dress up one level from your peers. Dress for the role you want not the one you have. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference it makes.

Keep your resume up to date. Keep your resume current. Spend a few minutes each month to add any new, relevant information to your resume. When a good opportunity comes along, you’ll be prepared!

Reach out to recruiters. Most recruiters are paid on commission. If you let them know you exist, you can be certain they’ll call you when something suitable hits their radar. Many recruiters find potential job candidates via LinkedIn. Ensure you’re registered.

Enhance your public speaking abilities. Few of us enjoy public speaking, but those with good presentation skills are in high demand. Since so few people have the courage to build their skills, it isn’t too challenging to become an effective public speaker. There isn’t a lot of competition. If you’re looking for a training program, check with your local community college for a night course.

Be indispensable. Some employees are so indispensable that the company goes out of its way to make them happy. Be sure your employer needs you. Find an important task and master it. Is your company looking for volunteers to learn a new software program? Are they looking for someone to manage their social media? Is there an opportunity to take on additional responsibilities? Be sure any extra work is relevant. Is a long-time employee leaving? Maybe you can fill some of the gaps that are created by their departure.

Find a mentor. The right mentor will take pride in helping you advance your career. A mentor can provide invaluable advice and introduce you to others who can be very beneficial to you. Many of the most successful corporate employees enjoyed the benefit of one or more mentors along the way.

Avoid following the herd at work. The average employee decides to do the minimal amount of work to keep their paycheck. It isn’t difficult to stand out from the pack by being a little more conscientious. Are you ready to take your career to the next level? Boost your career by excelling at the little things. Find a mentor, too. You’ll be glad you did!

Note to Valued Team Members

The advantage to being a member of a team is working toward common goals. There are strength in numbers and as a team any obstacle that emerges can be overcome. Being a great team member will mean supporting the person leading the group. Sometimes, you will be that person.

Without seeking it, you sometimes find yourself in the leadership role.

Being dependable and responsible, will drive your peers to look to you for guidance. The position comes naturally when others are seeking your advice. Accept the responsibility, and the challenges the role brings. 

Lead by example.

Being in charge is more than telling others what to do. It means identifying the goal, and the path to it. As a team leader get to know the strengths and weaknesses of your team members, and delegate tasks accordingly. Afterward, roll up your sleeves and put yourself to work alone

When the team reaches the goal, share in the success.

Know that the task is completed because of the team’s effort. It is the collection of individual efforts, in lieu of a single effort, that results in success. Be proud to be recognized as both a leader and contributing member.

Contribute fully to every task. You may be the leader, or you may just be a contributing member. Regardless of the role, always commit to the task until the goal is achieved.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Whom do I look to for guidance in the workplace?

2. What are the traits of a good leader?

3. How can I strengthen my leadership potential?

Helping Others Achieve Career Success

One of the most rewarding experiences for many people is helping someone else succeed. You can do this in many ways. Among the best is finding a way to help someone with his or her career. A fulfilling career can produce a lifetime of joy and, with some effort, you can help others experience that joy.

 When you help others achieve career success, you give them a priceless gift. There are many ways for you to help others advance their career in a way that allows them to reach their full potential.

Careers Are More Than Just Jobs

When you have a job, it’s often temporary. It might be something less than what you’re qualified for, or something you’re doing just so you can get by for the moment. When you have a career, it’s either something you went to school for, or have invested a considerable amount of time in and it is something you plan on doing for the rest of your life. Getting help to get that career started can make all the difference.

There are plenty of things that you can do to help others get their careers off the ground. Besides hiring them or giving them financial support, there are other ways to contribute to someone launching a new career. Consider the following options:

  1. Be a mentor for good work habits and perseverance. If the company does not have a formal mentorship program, volunteer for a less formal one.
  2. Teach others how to develop their skill set. The best way to learn is when you have to teach someone else. While this teaching is focused on building others up, it’s often the teacher that may benefit the most.
  3. Encourage others to volunteer in meetings, departmental projects, and/or social committees. This will help broaden their exposure to others in the company and build cross-collaborative relationships.

Those who see the job they do every day as part of a bigger career picture often get farther in their career and ultimately experience a greater sense of fulfillment. Instead of staying where they are, they always work to move forward with their professional lives. They might be interested in financial success, but they also want to do something with their lives that leaves their mark of contribution for those that follow.

Encouragement is Very Important to Success

 There are certainly stories of people who were successful without positive, encouraging words from others. But most of the successful people in their careers got there because they were told they had value. People in their lives encouraged them and told them how much they were capable of. By internalizing that information, they started believing it and putting it to good use.

With that in mind, ensure you encourage the people you work with. If you want others to see success in their careers, it helps if you let them know you believe in them. Sometimes all a person really needs is to know that his/her work matters and that he/she can make a difference. Having people that believe in you and your ability to deliver is very important.

Keep encouraging people to move forward with their career goals. Some of them may be lofty, but there’s nothing wrong with that. They need to know that they’re capable of more than what they’re doing now. When people see that they can accomplish more, they expand their thinking and rededicate themselves to their goals. You can be a part of their success story through your encouragement and support.

10 Tips to Successfully Changing Careers

Are you ready for a career change? It’s never too late to try a new career on for size. But, changing careers can be a significant challenge, depending on your career of choice. Over the past year the construction industry has experienced a boom. While many businesses experienced closings during the pandemic, construction was deemed an essential business across many states. Both the new construction and remodeling segments are in demand. This trend is expected for the foreseeable future. Due to the demand, many people have reached out to me for advice on getting into a new career. Here are a few of my tips that apply to any industry that you may be considering for a career change.

If you’re committed, there’s no reason you can’t find a new line of work that fulfills you and does more than just pays the bills. Think hard before you leap. You may have quite a bit of work ahead.

Try these activities to successfully make a career change and do the work you were meant to do:

1. Make a list of what you don’t like about your current position. If you’re considering a change, there must be something that’s rubbing you the wrong way. It might be your company, the people, or your position. Maybe you just weren’t cut out to be an accountant. Consider the things you don’t want to see in your next career.

2. Make a list of what you do like about your current position. It can’t all be bad! What are things about your current company and position that you enjoy? What would you like to see in your next position?

3. Consider your values. Perhaps your most important value is helping people, but you spend your days driving a beer delivery truck. A position helping others directly might be more to your liking. List your values and consider careers that dovetail with them.

4. Brainstorm a list of career possibilities that take into account your likes, dislikes, and values. Now that you’ve given some thought to what you like, don’t like, and your values, think of careers that can satisfy all of those requirements.

5. What else do you need? If you’re planning a significant change, you’ll probably need to learn a few new skills. You might even need to go back to school. Consider what you need to add to your resume and make a plan to make it happen.

6. Set a goal. Know what you want and put your vision to paper. Read your goal each day. Develop a reasonable plan to reach your goal in the near future. Create a goal that inspires you.

7. Network. Applying for an existing opening that is known to the public is like trying to win the lottery. Your best bet is to leverage the people you know. Try to get the inside scoop on your dream job. Let everyone know you’re looking to make a change. Be careful not to burn any bridges at your current job until you’re ready to move on.

8. Contact headhunters. A reputable headhunter only gets paid when they find you a job, and they are paid by the employer. You’re also likely to get a lot of good advice. After all, they know what companies are looking for right now. Just know that in this current economy a headhunter will be working with many candidates, and depending on your experience you may not be the highest priority.

9. Be willing to take a step back. You might have to take a demotion or a pay cut in order to change careers. Sometimes, it’s necessary to take a small step back to eventually take a greater step forward.

10. Be patient. Finding a new position is usually challenging. Finding a new position in a new field is considerably more difficult. You must be patient and persistent. Expect that it will take some time, but keep working hard toward realizing your dream.

Few things will change your life more than a change of career. It’s worth the effort to find a job that you love. After all, you spend 40-plus hours each week doing it. Take the time to make a wise decision and then put a plan in place. It might be the beginning of a new adventure.

10 Secrets of Influential Leaders

Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com

Influential leaders know how to motivate others. Since the amount you can accomplish on your own is limited, it’s necessary to have the assistance of others. Someone that can motivate others to do their best has an incredibly valuable talent. When you can inspire others, you can accomplish much more.

Motivate others to do their best:

1. Be emotionally supportive. Emotional intelligence is an important skill that leads to more effective leadership. To help others shine, removing the fear of failing or looking foolish is critical. Most people are frozen by fear and prefer to remain comfortable. When fear is greater than motivation, nothing happens. Removing fear can be just as effective as instilling additional motivation.

2. Provide additional support. Ask what resources are required. Foresight here is important, especially if the employee has limited experience in the role. A leaders ability to see around the corners and anticipate what roadblocks may prevent success will help build confidence in your employee. Determine what resources are required for success and provide them when its appropriate.

3. Follow up regularly. Show that you care by monitoring their progress. It’s enough to ask and then listen. Asking questions will also help to keep them on track.

4. Be publicly supportive. It’s one thing to support an employee in the privacy of your office. It’s quite another to be supportive in front of their peers.

5. Acknowledge and reward. Acknowledge progress and effort regularly. Everyone needs a little boost now and then. Ideally, give acknowledgement publicly. Conversely, your disgruntlement and any discipline should be handled privately. Results are important, but when the wrong outcomes occur it’s important to recognize the behaviors that bring about success more often that not.

6. Ask for ideas. You might hear a few ideas that are better than your own. It’s easier for others to get excited about their own ideas than to get excited about yours. Using ideas from your team will create a sense of purpose and involvement.

7. Be clear. Vagueness breeds confusion. Confusion saps enthusiasm. When the objective and the necessary steps are clear, motivation is easier to generate. Ensure that everyone is clear on their roles and the expected outcomes.

8. Set a good example. If it’s important to you, it will be important to your employees. Don’t underestimate the importance of identifying what’s in it for the employee in the end. Don’t just tell them it’s important, but show them by your behavior.

9. Create a vision. Paint a picture of the end result in the minds of those involved. The work is rarely enjoyable, but it’s the end result that matters. Keep reminding everyone of how great things will be when it’s over. The work is the path to reach that endpoint.

10. Deal swiftly with dissenters. It only takes one dissenting, charismatic employee to bring the whole thing crashing down. There’s often one complainer that tries to undermine the enthusiasm of everyone else. Don’t underestimate the damage this one person can do. Have a heart-to-heart conversation with them or move them out of the group.

  • Motivation isn’t just about remaining positive. It’s also about removing the obstacles. Dissenters are obstacles.
  • Encourage the sharing of opinions. However, once a decision has been made, expect cooperation.

Encourage others to do their best work or to follow that path that leads them to their most important goals. Motivating others is a skill that anyone can develop. You can only be as successful as your team. Avoid the belief that you can do it all alone. You can’t. 

Great leaders are tasked with the responsibility of inspiring others to be overachievers. It’s a challenging task, but if you’re good at motivating others, you’ll always be one of the most important people around.

Learn to be a Valued Team Player and Reap the Benefits

Have you ever struggled to “click” with your co-workers? Whether you see the differences as a matter of age, stage in life, or philosophy, those gaps surely make it more of a challenge to work together to achieve a common goal. 

Of course, it’s important to be recognized for your individual achievements. However, wouldn’t it be nice to also receive kudos for your great teamwork skills, despite your differences?

The good news is you have the power to become that valued team player! And even better, your career will benefit immensely from your team skills.

Apply these ideas and you’ll be a star on your team:

1. Be friendly to every co-worker. Sounds simple, but not easy in practice. A great piece of advice that I was given in early in my management career was to “be curious” about every person on your team. Even if you have completely different interests than a co-worker, you never know what can happen if you show sincere interest in them.

2. Ask work-related questions. When you’re unsure of factors related to a work project, approach a co-worker working on the same job and to try to clarify your questions. In some organizations it is very easy to fall into work silos. Reaching out to others who may be in a different department may provide a different perspective on shared issues or problems.

  • Reaching out to others shows your willingness to accept information from co-workers in order to do your best work. 
  • Plus, this behavior demonstrates your respect for your co-workers and their input.

3. Celebrate even the smallest successes. When a co-worker completes part of a project or resolves a minor issue, make it a point to comment on it. Show you notice the contributions of your co-workers through your words. Your comment on their achievement may be the only one they get. In some organizations and management structures you know you haven’t done anything wrong when your manager hasn’t spoken to you in days or weeks. While that is unfortunate, it tends to be true.

4. Show openness about your work plan. Prior to proceeding with your work on a project, tell involved co-workers what you plan to do. Creating culture involves repeatedly casting a vision regarding the work that you do.

  • When you speak to your co-workers about the direction you’re heading in the work you’re doing, it promotes open communication and shows you’re using a team approach.

5. Use “we” when talking with co-workers. When you use “we,” it pulls all of you together to work for a common cause. 

  • When you and your co-workers feel a part of something greater than yourselves, you’ll be amazed at the things you can achieve together.

6. Notice behaviors of your co-workers. Do they offer to help you once in a while? Are some of them willing to put in extra effort when it’s needed? When they do, let them know you notice.

7. Reciprocate. When a co-worker chips in to help or finishes a task to assist you in completing a project, remember to return the favor. Help them out when they need a boost with their big project.

8. Avoid pointing out the errors of your co-workers. Calling attention to the mistakes of others is rarely the way to go. It certainly won’t earn you any brownie points with anyone. 

  • It may sound clichĆ©, but everyone makes mistakes and you likely won’t want someone bringing up your faux pas to the group, so don’t do it to others. 
  • Take the attitude that you’ll instead try to learn from the mistakes of others.

9. Be generous. Of course, it would be nice if you received special recognition for whatever you contributed to someone else’s project, but it may not happen all the time. 

  • If you approach a job with the idea that, above all, you want to be an effective team player, you’ll be recognized for your stellar individual skills at some point.

Being a team player will help open doors for you over your career. Plus, you’ll probably make some friends and learn something of great value in the process. When you can demonstrate you fully understand the importance of contributing to the team, you’ll eventually win the game.

How to Improve Communication with Your Boss

Good communication allows many situations to run smoothly. However, there are certain relationships that deserve extra attention, such as the relationship you have with your boss. You and your boss have drastically different roles, and when each of you fulfills these roles with a hard working and understanding attitude, you’ll both feel fulfilled.

Get To Know Your Boss

As in all personal and professional relationships, it’s important to understand how others communicate. 

Everyone has their own set of likes and dislikes, and everyone has their own unique personality types and communication styles. Once you understand their preferences, you can adjust your style and methods of communication to best suit their needs.

It is important to take note of communication patterns. Does your boss email after hours? Does your boss email on weekends? Does he/she prefer face-to-face meetings? Does he/she prefer end-of-week summaries? The trouble with a lot of communication today is the perception that it has happened. By identifying patterns early in the relationship you can have an open conversation about what the expectations are around how and when to communicate.

Understand Your Relationship

It’s important to develop a good business relationship with your boss. Find out what he expects and what his/her goals for the business are, that way you can both be working toward the same goal.

The following tips can help you further improve your communication with your boss:

1. Avoid being too friendly. It’s important to be friendly, but only to a certain extent. You’re not true friends with your boss. While it may seem like a good idea at first, it can lead to some uncomfortable situations. Your boss might have trouble giving you negative feedback, or your co-workers may develop jealousy. Too often this is a lesson learned after the fact.

2. Schedule meetings with your boss. Managing up is just as important as managing down. Proactively scheduling regular meeting with your boss gives you an opportunity to manage up. Your boss may or may not be scheduling regular meetings with you. Regardless of this, take the initiative to schedule time with your boss if you feel the need. Your boss will know that you’re serious about developing your business relationship and that you really care about your job and the company.

3. Problem solving. Find out if you can help your manager with any problems that need attention. What are the burning imperatives? While you don’t want to step on any toes, your boss will surely appreciate you taking the initiative. Doing so will really give you the chance to stand out. 

4. Maintain patience. The title “Supervisor” is misleading in that there is no super vision powers innate to the role. The pandemic has brought many challenges and situations where there were no answers or easy solutions. Perhaps you would’ve done things differently than your boss or you strongly feel that one of his/her decisions won’t turn out right. Develop the wisdom to know if you should keep your mouth shut and go with the flow, or if you should politely speak up. 

5. Shift your perspective. You can improve your communication with your boss and feel less frustrated just by putting yourself in their shoes. Imagine what everything is like for them; they likely have more burdens and pressures on their shoulders than you realized. The hardest aspect of being a manager are the problems that are prevented hardly ever get recognized, it is the problems that could not have been prevented that get the attention.

Be Prepared

Even if you’re not quite sure what to say all the time, as long as you are prepared and honest in your communication, your boss will surely notice. So if you have to reflect and write down your thoughts ahead of time, so be it. That level of preparation will benefit you in the long run. As the saying goes, it is better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt. If you are a more deliberate speaker do not hesitate to take the appropriate time to come up with a well thought-out response to a particular situation.

With any relationship, good communication skills are a huge benefit. Strive to work on strengthening these skills every day and it will help your career to flourish. In the end, your positive attitude and willingness to understand others will help you forge stronger, more permanent bonds.

7 Signs You’re Working Towards Your Potential:

For those who desire to experience a greater sense of enjoyment in their work, it’s necessary to concentrate on what you want and keep working towards it. Those who fall short of their potential and those who exceed their potential have one thing in common, they both experience times where it’s a struggle to stay focused on their goals.  

Is it a constant struggle to give 100% in everything you do? Here’s how those who exceed their potential stay motivated.  

7 Signs you’re on the path to your potential:

1. You make every moment count. You recognize that if you’re spending your time doing something, you might as well be learning as much as you can. You stay connected to the task at hand. Immersing yourself in each activity to make the most of it. 

  • Think about a task at work that you dislike, such as completing reports. Even though these reports may be boring and time-consuming, you understand that it’s important to do a good job and put forth maximum effort. Proving to yourself and others that you can excel at even the most mundane task.
  • You direct your energies toward living in the moment not mulling things of the past.

2. You regularly think about the difference between being average versus excellent. You reflect on the difference between performing a mediocre job as opposed to an outstanding job. You know which way of working makes you feel more confident about your performance? You may not hit it every time, but you strive for excellence in everything you do.

3. You begin with the end in mind. Commonly you ask yourself, “If I try as hard as I can, what might happen?” According to Stephen Covey, beginning with the end of your project in mind is a wonderfully proactive way to set yourself up for success. You realize that identifying the “end” you seek puts you ahead of the pack. Then, you design a specific step-by-step plan in order to achieve it.

4. You’re positive. You know that positive thoughts will make you feel more content and increase your chance of success. 

  • You take time to consider the alternative: is it possible to work toward your potential if your thoughts are riddled with negativity? 
  • You choose positive thinking over cynicism to achieve your highest heights.

5. You’re optimistic when approaching a task. You know that if you ever think, “I hate doing these monthly reports because they take forever,” then the report will probably indeed take a long time to complete. 

  • When you have a pessimistic attitude, you know that is often what you will live up to. 
  • Instead, you choose optimism and put forth your best efforts. Then maybe that task won’t be so bad after all. 

6. You set smaller objectives toward accomplishing larger goals. To avoid getting overwhelmed you creating short-term objectives. For example, if you want to earn a college degree, but it seems overwhelming, just start by taking one class at a time. 

  • You think about the process. Referring back to the example of a college degree, you start by taking one course, then completing a semester of classes, and then finishing each year of college until you earn your degree.
  • You know that by setting small, manageable objectives, you’ll be on a positive path toward your goals and you’ll be able to see your forward progress along the way. 

7. You celebrate your successes. By acknowledging your efforts, you’re inspired to achieve even higher levels. The more you accomplish the more success you will experience.

You make the most of your experience by working toward your fullest potential. Who do you know that may be encouraged by learning these signs? When you begin helping others exceed their potential, you know that yours is endless!

Does the Pandemic Have You Job Planning?

Due to the pandemic many individuals have found themselves looking for work, or they may be taking this opportunity to reevaluate a chosen career path.Ā The best way to determine a job worth pursuing is by doing a job skills assessment. A self-assessment will allow you to explore your personality type, find out what you’re good at, and determine your values.

Here’s a list of questions that may be a part of a self-assessment:

  • Do you tend to be introverted or extroverted?
  • Do you generally remain calm, or do you get nervous easily?
  • How organized are you?
  • What is your general temperament?
  • What are your general interests?
  • Do you enjoy risky situations?

Formal Job Skills Assessment Tests

There are many job skills assessment tests available online that may even be several hundred questions long. These tests are designed to determine answers to the questions above.

Sometimes a potential employer will want you to be evaluated before your interview. However, if you can compose a list that combines your personality traits with skills that you’re good at, you can assess your potential careers yourself.

The Answer is in Your Interests

By reflecting on your hobbies you may be able to determine a viable career choice. Try answering these questions and consider the recommendations:

Do you tend to like working with tools and objects, or working with other people?

  • If you like working with tools or objects you may be suited for a career in building, repair, or engineering.
  • If you enjoy working with others perhaps you’d make a good sales representative, team leader, or manager.

Do you prefer things to be concrete and organized, or do you prefer the creative?

  • Most career choices will involve organization to some degree, but if you prefer creative options you may be suited for a career in art, music, advertising, or photography.

Do you like projects that involve a finished physical product, or a social result such as improved self-esteem?

  • If you prefer to see a finished product, you could be suited for a career in sales or product creation. You may even like science and experimenting.
  • If you prefer social results, you could consider some form of counseling or social work.

Do you tend to enjoy business or science?

  • This is an easy question, but understanding yourself can help you determine whether you would be suited for a career in entrepreneurship or experimentation and research.

Do you prefer when things are the same everyday or different?

  • If you prefer a consistent day-to-day routine, you may want to consider office work like accounting, or repair and construction work.
  • If you like to see differences in your day, you might be better suited for a creative profession like writing, directing, or designing.

Do you prefer to follow or take charge?

  • If you’re a person that tends to take charge, you could be a great team leader someday. Look for a career where you get to manage people and lead everyone to a common goal.

Are you good at interpreting feelings?

  • If you have proven to have a high emotional intelligence, you may be suited for teaching or counseling. These careers require you to understand what your students or clients are feeling and understanding.

Choosing your Career

You should now have a better idea about what kinds of jobs to look for in your career search. If not, you should at least be able to narrow down your choices to a few categories. You always have the option of reading books or taking classes in order to get a better understanding of your career choice and to develop your skill set.

Remember that you can do anything you want when you’re determined. Finding a job in line with your personal preferences helps you take advantage of your passion so you can achieve greater success.

The Low-Down on Criticism

I was reminded of a quote recently and it stayed with me for a couple of days. Due to the fact that the quote was top-of-mind, I became acutely aware of how people around me were reacting to criticism that they were receiving. The quote was:

The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.

Norman Vincent peale

Wow! The wisdom and truth in this simple statement. Most of us have experienced both praise and criticism, and while both are important, I see many people react negatively to criticism. Of course criticism never feels as good as praise, but how do we improve without it?

Criticism at work can stimulate professional and personal growth if you know how to deal with it effectively. Below are a few simple guidelines for adopting a positive mindset and responding to feedback from supervisors and colleagues.

Taking a Positive View of Criticism

1. Stay relaxed. If you try to appear calm and confident, you’re more likely to feel that way. Keeping your emotions under control will enable you to listen better. Take some deep breaths and keep your body language open.

2. Look on the bright side. If you’re sensitive to criticism, remind yourself of your good qualities and the many things that you do well.

3. Keep an open mind. Your co-workers may have valuable suggestions for areas where you can improve. Respect their point of view. Be receptive to new ideas and alternative approaches. You might learn something that makes your job easier.

4. Look for the humor in the situation. Even if you receive unjustified comments, you can make them easier to deal with by noticing the comic elements. For example, if a customer blames you for their expired promotion, respond tactfully without taking it too seriously.

5. Take a compassionate view. It’s easy to react defensively, but it’s also important to give people the leeway that you want from time to time. Often times assumptions are made about the motives of the individual giving feedback, and often time those assumptions are wrong. Accept criticism for exactly what it is- feedback.

Responding to Feedback From Supervisors and Colleagues

1. Invite feedback. Asking for feedback regularly beats waiting for the annual performance review. You’ll get prompt and specific guidance for doing your job better, and you’ll demonstrate your ability to take initiative.

2. Ask questions. Show the other person you’re really listening by asking pertinent questions. You’ll also clarify any areas of doubt.

3. Hear the other person out. Let the other person speak without interruptions. For the moment, pay attention to them instead of working to prepare a defense.

4. Conduct a self-appraisal. Regularly evaluate your own work. It will give you a stronger foundation for reflecting on your colleagues’ remarks.

5. Focus on the message, not the messenger. Distinguish between the content of the message and your personal feelings of the messenger. Even if you think someone is being less than courteous, there could still be some truth in what they’re saying.

6. Get a second opinion. Surveying other people around the office is helpful if you need some objective input. You may find out that your experience is typical. On the other hand, you may discover that you’ll need to make a special effort if you and your boss appear to be a difficult fit.

7. Document your position. If there’s an ongoing disagreement, find ways to support your conclusions. Be aware of confirmation bias however. If you’re emotionally bought into being right then you’ll only consider what supports your position. Find objective data such as industry statistics or internal memos may strengthen your case. However things turn out, you’ll contribute to a constructive and informed dialogue.

8. Be gracious. Set a good example by offering your feedback in a way that’s timely and specific. Focus on people’s conduct rather than their personalities. This will encourage better morale and office communications. Show your willingness to cooperate with everybody even when you experience occasional conflicts.

9. Schedule a follow-up session. Let people know how much you appreciate their advice. After you’ve had time to implement their suggestions, tell them how they helped to improve your performance. This will also give you a chance to make a better impression on them.

Make criticism at the office a catalyst to your personal development and ultimately use it to your advantage. Use feedback from others to improve your performance and advance in your career.

If you’re ready to receive feedback in your workplace- leave a comment and I’ll send you an easy 360-Feedback Exercise. You can use this tool to solicit feedback from your colleagues and learn a few tips to make your job easier.