A few days ago, I sat in a supervisor’s office of as they reviewed some of my work. They suggested (in a joking manner) that due to my status as a millennial, they should be quite light on any criticism, and should applaud my hard work. After all, we millennials are known to appreciate self-esteem boosts, right?
While I was appreciative of the encouragement and humor about the situation, I reassured them that I need that criticism. Yes, as a millennial, I may wish to avoid criticism and conflict. But – whether we like it or not – that leaves little room for professional development.
What do you do when you experience criticism through a small conflict or problem in the virtual or real-life office? How about a big one?
I’ve found that following an “ABC” formula for addressing problems that arise during your internship is very helpful… and keeps you on track toward professional success.
A. Apologize (when necessary, but don’t overdo it)
I admit there have been a few times when I made mistakes in an internship, and a supervisor criticized me. It happens to everyone, and most often can be mitigated if you handle it correctly, and immediately.
Instead of making excuses, take responsibility for your actions and fix the problem. However, once that is taken care of, continue with your work. Even if the problem really bothered you, do not continue to raise the issue with your supervisor. On a date, would you repeatedly point out a coffee stain on your shirt? The same applies to your internship.
Take care of the problem, apologize, and move on.
B. Blame (leave it elsewhere)
If you truly feel you’re being unfairly blamed for a problem, calmly address the situation with your supervisor. However, if you are to blame, accept responsibility, be brief and concise in your explanation of what happened, and move on. If you cannot do it immediately, ask your supervisor for some time to properly address the situation. Be sure to address it as soon as possible.
It’s best to allow some time for your emotions to cool, and to develop a calm response.
C. Create (a genuine learning opportunity)
The problems you might encounter can range from quite minor to completely humiliating, perhaps affecting the course of your internship. However, even in the worst case scenario, there is undoubtedly something to learn.
Privately reflect (not on your public blog, Twitter account, or Facebook) about the situation, what you did wrong, what you should have done differently, and how you will handle similar situations should they arise in the future. You will make mistakes from time to time. Record your learnings, in your head, or perhaps in a private diary of some sort – and periodically review how you’ve persevered through your mistakes. You should be able to follow your positive learning curve.
Regardless of your generation, if you apply the “ABC” approach and handle inevitable problems with poise and professionalism, you’ll impress your coworkers and your supervisor – and turn poor situations into a positive learning experiences, and success.
The author, Diane Kulseth, is a student at the University of St. Thomas with a proven drive to always stay on the top of innovation. Diane is involved with developing social media strategy and researching social media channels for various clients as well as search engine optimization (SEO) content strategy for internal projects.
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