Here’s something I think we can all relate to: Let’s say there is an “issue” in your workplace dealing with your performance that is affecting your ability to work effectively. Maybe it’s not a problem yet, but it could potentially turn into one. This issue might be a perceived deficiency in your work, and it could come from anyone in your work environment. It’s bothering you, and you’re not sure what to do about it.
Well, I have a strategy for dealing with these issues that has served me well, but there are times where I need to back up and remind myself of it. Here it is:
It’s not always about you. In other words – don’t take criticism or the perception of problems with your performance personally. Instead, take a deep breath, step back, and ask yourself “what can I do to best serve the needs of this situation?” Don’t be petty and make everything about you – try to serve the greater good of the people involved and adjust your performance accordingly.
Use criticism and problems like this as an opportunity to grow and become better at your job and don’t allow yourself to feel personally attacked. Because here’s the reality: it probably has nothing to do with you personally at all, and was never intended that way. It has everything to do with the issue as it effects everyone else, and you would do well to look at it dispassionately and see your work as a service to others, not a service to yourself. Ask yourself “what can I do better?”
This may seem hard at first, but it actually makes dealing the issue at hand easier. You don’t feel aggrieved, and you can actually learn and grow. As a side benefit, your peers will respect your pragmatism, which has its own benefits.