What should I do when I don't think that the feedback from my boss is correct and how do I approach it?

Even when feedback seems completely unfair, there may be some small nugget to pay attention to. So, in general don't dismiss the feedback without some introspection. Giving objective feedback is actually hard to do; most people can't distinguish between whether it is their own pet peeves that are driving them to provide feedback or if they are reflecting some broader consensus on true weaknesses that need correction. Who should seek to change: the person who got annoyed or the person who is gene ...Read More

Great question! And upward feedback is so important. We are all always learning so feedback is critical. In your next one on one (or schedule time if you don't have it). Think about what your goal for the meeting is. Is it just to give the feedback? Is it for your boss to change their decision? Knowing what outcome you want before you enter the conversation will help you stay on track. In the meeting, ask to understand the why (and context) behind the decision your boss made. The above response ...Read More

First of all - I empathize with you and I know it's hard to receive critical feedback, but I applaud your interest in wanting to do something about this feedback and improve it. Feedback and manager relationships are often tough to navigate and there is no one-size-fits-all answer, but I'll share what has been helpful to me so far - both when receiving feedback and as a manager. I think you have a couple of questions here - so I'll break them up first: 1) On what to do with feedback and how to i ...Read More

It sounds like the feedback you’re getting may not be constructive, so I encourage you to ask your boss for specific examples, as well as recommendations of how they can see you improving. It’s more than okay—it’s appreciated—to be honest that you want more from the feedback so you can ingest it and apply it to future projects. Even if you don’t agree with the feedback, understanding how they got there will help with finding a common ground and creating goals together. Be proactive and schedule ...Read More

I admit, that’s a tough one. When you say ‘critical’ feedback, I hope it’s still constructive rather than just tearing you down. 1) If the feedback is just criticism, it’s time to move on to a new boss. It’s not your job to mentor your boss on how to work positively with people. 2) If the feedback is meant to be constructive but you don’t know what to do with it, ask your boss to be very specific. “You need to write better,” is not helpful. “You can improve your writing skills by writing more co ...Read More