How to Cope with Unfair Criticism at Work

Every piece of work you submit becomes a target for criticism. No matter how carefully you follow procedures or how well you perform, the negative feedback keeps coming. What started as occasional critiques has turned into a constant stream of fault-finding that feels more personal than professional.

You're exhausted from defending yourself against an endless barrage of unjustified criticism.

Have you recently been subjected to persistent and unjustified criticisms in your workgroup?

This pattern of relentless, unfair criticism isn't just demoralising – it's workplace bullying. When you're constantly subjected to unjustified critiques, it can affect both your confidence and your ability to perform your role.

Understanding Workplace Bullying

Persistent unjustified criticism goes beyond constructive feedback to create a pattern of negative judgment. This behaviour undermines your professional confidence and creates a hostile work environment.

When feedback is fair, it focuses on specific work issues and aims to help you improve.

However, when criticism becomes a form of bullying, you need strategies to maintain your confidence while addressing the situation.

Why It Matters

Here's why persistent unfair criticism needs attention:

• It can erode your professional confidence and make you doubt your abilities
• It often creates a paper trail of negative feedback that could affect your career
• It may lead to anxiety about every task, impacting your work performance

But you don't have to accept unjustified criticism. There are ways to respond professionally and protect yourself.

Taking Action

1. Track Everything

Document each instance of criticism, noting the specifics of your work alongside the feedback received, creating a clear record of any discrepancies.

2. Gather Evidence

Keep examples of positive feedback, successful outcomes, and met objectives to counter unjustified critiques.

3. Respond Professionally

Address unfair criticism with factual, documented responses that highlight your actual performance and adherence to standards.

Maintaining Your Confidence

Living under a cloud of constant criticism can make you question your every move at work. Yet handling unfair criticism isn't just about defending today's work – it's about protecting your professional self-worth and career trajectory.

By using MOOD.ai to track how you feel about workplace feedback each day, you can identify patterns of unfair criticism and their impact on your wellbeing.

Your right to fair and constructive feedback matters, and taking steps to address unjustified criticism helps maintain a professional environment based on respect.