Criticism Part Four: Recovering

A Note to Minions:

You may have made a mistake, but you didn't make ALL the mistakes.   

More importantly, you neither invented the mistake, nor did you become a person who constantly makes mistakes.  Imperfections are merely clear signs that you're a member of the human race.  
After a scolding, a recognition that your habits could be refined, or a self-discovered "oops", take a long minute once you get back to your desk.  

During this long minute, assess what level of severity the mistake/criticism was at (missed deadline vs. double booking a client vs. forgetting to complete a task due to disorganization) and come up with a plan to tackle that particular obstacle.  

Recovering from criticism can be difficult, especially if the criticism is harsh or warranted.  If you're having a hard time, during the long minute you take at your desk, write a list of some things you're excellent at.  Then, write a list of things you feel you need to work on.  Where does your mistake lie?  Often errors are due to oversight and not double checking your work.  Sometimes to avoid making recurring mistakes there must be a change of attitude and personal procedure. 

Finally, forgive yourself - errors occur.  Constantly refining your technique will ease the forgiveness process, as it will give you something else to focus on than the error itself.  

A Note to Supervisors:

Sometimes criticism is best received when it comes in the form of advice.  

Stories of past staff members and how they handled their mistakes or their job functions can be surprisingly more usable to your staff than listing their current shortcomings.  

However the administration, notice how your staff member accepts criticism - some employees like to be told straight up what they need to improve, and some employees prefer advice and time to regroup.  Knowing how your staff operate will allow you to most effectively support growth and improvements.