Using Criticism to Fuel Your Career

Criticism is as certain in life as oxygen is necessary for us to breathe, and in your professional life it is more important than ever. Not hearing any criticism about yourself could mean a couple of things. It could mean you are not conscious about what criticism sounds like or everyone is too scared of you to share what they really think. It does not mean you are perfect. Feedback on your professional activities, even as they relate to your relations in the office is important for the following reasons.

• It highlights the public’s perception of you. What you think about yourself as you give your reflection the power talk every morning is one thing, but the real deal is how everyone else views you. Use any deviance in what you wish to portray and what is shown to correct the image you are trying to create.
• It highlights areas that need improvement. Being the guru of everything is impossible, but the critical areas on which your company depends on you should be important if you want to succeed in that space. Find out what you are doing well and what areas you can improve on, do not wait until the yearly appraisal to get feedback.
• It forces you to re-examine your goals. You may really love what you do but if it is not adding value to your life, and maybe your pocket, it may be time to re-evaluate. Take into account all the positives and negatives you have gathered about your work and use it as a guide as to what your true calling may be.

Don’t be afraid to receive feedback about yourself. Knowledge is power, and hearing the honest truth can go a far way in helping you improve and create the career you really deserve.

*************************************END*****************************

Joedian Reid is a software developer with a more human side. In addition to her love for the in-animate and millions of lines of code, she likes writing – words. As a freelance writer she has written thousands of words for clients over the globe in product/business and technical content.

Follow and gain insights as she turns her freelance writing into a hobby to enlighten others along the path of her own career.