Criticizing Others at Work Either to Get Ahead or Diminish Their Accomplishments
Have you ever been guilty of criticizing others at work? If you find yourself doing this, ask yourself why.
Perhaps you've got ambitions to get ahead, and you spot someone who's got the position you desire or think you should have. You observe that this individual isn't perfectly executing the charges given to them, either in managing people or leading the team to achieving some objective or objectives. You could do this better, you think. So you criticize them, maybe first just in your own thoughts, or, worse, to others.
Perhaps you don't like someone, either because they somehow slighted or offended you, or just because they somehow get on your nerves. Their mere presence annoys you, and so you wind up noticing their faults, little mistakes they make. It somehow makes you feel better, the mere idea that they're not doing their job as well as you could. Worse, you start to point out their faults and screw-ups to others, thereby dragging this annoying person down in the eyes of others.
Can you think of any other examples of how and when you criticized others at work? Ever? May I suggest that, if you do, you might have spent your time better examining your own thoughts and actions and perhaps attend to your own mistakes and faults instead. We all know, of course, that none of us is perfect. But when we criticize others, we conveniently forget this, don't we? We wind up judging not only the actions, but even the intentions of others not only without really knowing whether our criticism is really justified, but in the face of our own imperfections.
On the other hand, if you're not the sort that criticizes or judges others, congratulations. You're certainly someone who follows the advice that Our Lord gives us so clearly and explicitly in Matthew 7: 1-5.
And notice, He's not telling you be "positive" here. This isn't some consultant conducting a training session and throwing out the typical bromides to the "team" to "get everyone on the same page." This is Our Blessed Lord, who loves us more than we can possibly imagine, giving us simple, direct, caring advice so that we can avoid temptations in this area, so that we can grow in sanctity, meaning grow closer and closer to Him during our days here on earth, so that when our time comes we can share in His eternal glory. Take his advice to heart. Pray with it in mind and ask for the grace to quell that critical spirit.
(Hey, maybe his advice will even quell my own critical spirit!)
Perhaps you've got ambitions to get ahead, and you spot someone who's got the position you desire or think you should have. You observe that this individual isn't perfectly executing the charges given to them, either in managing people or leading the team to achieving some objective or objectives. You could do this better, you think. So you criticize them, maybe first just in your own thoughts, or, worse, to others.
Perhaps you don't like someone, either because they somehow slighted or offended you, or just because they somehow get on your nerves. Their mere presence annoys you, and so you wind up noticing their faults, little mistakes they make. It somehow makes you feel better, the mere idea that they're not doing their job as well as you could. Worse, you start to point out their faults and screw-ups to others, thereby dragging this annoying person down in the eyes of others.
Can you think of any other examples of how and when you criticized others at work? Ever? May I suggest that, if you do, you might have spent your time better examining your own thoughts and actions and perhaps attend to your own mistakes and faults instead. We all know, of course, that none of us is perfect. But when we criticize others, we conveniently forget this, don't we? We wind up judging not only the actions, but even the intentions of others not only without really knowing whether our criticism is really justified, but in the face of our own imperfections.
On the other hand, if you're not the sort that criticizes or judges others, congratulations. You're certainly someone who follows the advice that Our Lord gives us so clearly and explicitly in Matthew 7: 1-5.
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and they you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.It's really bad for your soul to engage in criticism of others. Our Lord knows this, hence His excellent advice. Do yourself a favor and read this passage again, maybe again after that. Let His words sink in. When you get to the end, notice that Our Lord leaves the door open to correct, to help others, if we see a fault that we believe we can help them correct. But only after we've attended to our own imperfections.
And notice, He's not telling you be "positive" here. This isn't some consultant conducting a training session and throwing out the typical bromides to the "team" to "get everyone on the same page." This is Our Blessed Lord, who loves us more than we can possibly imagine, giving us simple, direct, caring advice so that we can avoid temptations in this area, so that we can grow in sanctity, meaning grow closer and closer to Him during our days here on earth, so that when our time comes we can share in His eternal glory. Take his advice to heart. Pray with it in mind and ask for the grace to quell that critical spirit.
(Hey, maybe his advice will even quell my own critical spirit!)
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