(taken from the book "How To Say It At Work" by Jack Griffin)

Criticism from your superior/ boss can be disturbing or, worst, intimidating. Nevertheless, while you may never learn to welcome criticism, you can adopt strategies of responding to it in a constructive manner.

1. Accept criticism as an opportunity. All criticism, even unmerited criticism, is useful to you. After all, it may actually point out things you are doing ineffectively or poorly - things you could do better.
2. Fight the impulse to respond defensively. Listen and learn.
3. Realize that criticism is a perception, nothing more. Objective measurements - sales figures, for example - may indicate that you are doing a fine job, yet your boss may find something to criticize. Does this mean your boss is wrong or an ungrateful person? Quite possibly so. But that conclusion should not prompt you to ignore the criticism. Explore the reasons behind the criticism. Can you do something that will maintain the excellent sales performance you have achieved while also allowing your boss to perceive that you are doing a good job?
4. Do not meekly accept unjust or unfounded criticism, but don't reject it either. Learn from it. Learn about creating more positive perceptions.
5. Seize the opportunity to respond to criticism, to communicate in a way that can strengthen and enhance your relationship with your boss.
6. While listening to criticism, demonstrate that you are hearing the criticism.

Send the right nonverbal signals that show the criticism is registering with you:

* Make and maintain eye contact with your boss.
* Monitor your own signals of resistance, such as tuning out, eyes on other people/ things around you, etc.

Your objective is not to appear passive, but open, willing to listen, to learn, to change, and to cooperate.