Reasons People are Critical to one another in the Workplace
Criticism hurts everyone. No one enjoys listening to criticism of themselves. This is especially true in the workplace. Before you get indignant and storm off in a huff, it helps to know why people are critical of one another, in the workplace.
Sometimes the criticism is valid and understandable. If, for example, you make a cup of coffee in the staff area, and you leave a mess for a colleague to clean up after you, you deserve criticism. You were inconsiderate and selfish, your colleague had to waste their break time cleaning up your mess, before he, or she, could make their own coffee.
If you work in particular workplaces, procedures must be followed exactly, and all actions properly logged. This is especially true in certain emergency services, where such records could form evidence in legal proceedings. If you do not follow proper procedure, you should expect your colleague to criticize you. She would not be doing her job properly, if she did not, and she could get into trouble along with you for your error.
When criticism is valid, you should mend the fault, or omission, that caused the criticism. You should also thank the person for their criticism, since it helps you to learn by your mistakes and improve yourself.
People sometimes become very critical because they are suffering some personal crisis or have domestic problems or worries.
Some colleagues may criticize you out of jealousy or spite, or workers may gang up, and constantly criticize and victimize one person, to get them sacked, or force them to resign. This behaviour belongs in the school playground, not in the workplace, and exists because poor management allows it to do so. It is bullying, you should look at the company policy regarding bullying, and keep a diary documenting all incidents with time, date, details of the incident and the names of witnesses, and statements from them, as to what they saw and heard. You can outwit them, by logging your work, and keeping copies, of everything that you do, safely. So that the work that you do cannot be “accidently” lost, replaced, or altered.
A colleague may simply be judgmental and critical by nature. His, or her, criticism is not personal or particular to you, because he, or she, is critical of everyone in the workplace.
Some workers may criticize others to make themselves look, or feel better. This type of criticism comes from insecurity. Perhaps you are better at the job than they are, or they feel that you are, maybe the person does not feel very confident about their skills and abilities. Compliment this person on their work or talents, you will make them feel better about themselves, and the criticism might well disappear.
A negative, or overly competitive, culture, in the workplace, and management pressure can lead to people being over critical of one another, in the workplace. It will add to the negative atmosphere and, again, it is due to poor management.
Everyone feels criticism keenly, the phrase “the sting of criticism” aptly describes that hurt. If the criticism is valid, to any degree, mend the fault that occasioned the criticism. If it is not, try to understand the reasons why someone criticized you, and decide what action, if any, you wish to take.
