Problems at Work 10: Do Not Criticize Your Supervisors

This is another post examining problems at work that could lose your job or stall your career

Before we begin, let’s review the three key actions you need to do to keep your job and earn the biggest raises and the best promotions: 1) do the job they want done—and more, 2) fit into the team and organization, and 3) prove a good return on investment. Today, I want to explore one aspect that afflicts many workers or employees.

Reasons You May Judge Your Supervisors

You may justify criticizing your supervisors for several reasons:

• You cannot see the value of the direction they move the company
• You disagree with how they treat their clients, employees, or others
• You see a better way to run the company
• You recognize problems in the company that nobody accepts
• Other employees draw you into their negative discussions
• You do not accept strategic or operational changes they propose
• Personality conflicts just create negative feelings about someone

Perhaps you don’t voice your criticism. You feel you hide your feelings. You think no one knows how you feel. You perceive that your smile and countenance masks that you do not like nor respect them. Unfortunately, your negativity usually communicates. Very few people can conceal their mental criticisms. The people around you will sense your criticism.

Benefits of Judging or Criticizing Your Supervisor

I will admit that you may identify possible benefits to your criticism:

• Your comments will highlight what needs to change to important people
• Others will accept your ideas or criticism and accept your ideas
• You can say “I told you so” when their approach fails
• Venting clears your feelings, frustrations, and pain

Consequences of Judging or Criticizing Your Supervisor

While the rationalizations listed above may bring temporary satisfaction, they ultimately ruin relationships. Continued bad feelings verify that you:

• Don’t fit into the team or organization
• Hesitate to do the job they want done
• Resist direction and instruction
• Do not have a future in their organization

Wednesday we will discuss how talking too much can lose your job or stall your career