How do you talk to an employee who is defensive?

Ask a Candid Boss: How Can I Provide Feedback When My Employee Gets So Defensive?

1. Don’t Forget to Praise.
2. Do Emphasize Your Intention to Be Helpful.
3. Don’t Criticize Reactions.
4. Do React With Understanding and Compassion.
5. Don’t Escalate the Situation.
6. Do Be Open to a Conversation.
7. Don’t Criticize in Public.

How do I give feedback to defensiveness?

How to Give Feedback about Defensiveness

1. Name the defensiveness and its impact.
2. Get curious about the defensiveness.
3. Offer some reassurance, if genuine.
4. Describe what you need going forward.

How do you handle negative feedback at work?

6 Tips for Handling Negative Feedback

1. Ask clarifying questions.
2. Know that negative feedback isn’t a personal attack.
3. Ask for feedback often.
4. Take time to process your emotions.
5. View the feedback from your critic’s point of view.
6. Determine whether the feedback is constructive or destructive.

How do you tell someone they are too defensive?

3 ways to start a conversation with a defensive person:

1. Calmly state your intentions up-front. For particularly sensitive topics that you’re almost sure will generate a defensive response, it can be helpful to just anticipate it.
2. Avoid leading with an accusation.
3. Steer clear of “always,” “never,” and “you” statements.

How do you confront someone who is defensive?

Here are several steps that can help you become more emotionally intelligent when dealing with defensive people:

1. Refrain from reacting defensively.
2. Shift your focus to the other person.
3. Ask questions until you understand them.
4. Move toward a resolution.

How do you avoid negative feedback personally?

7 Tips That’ll Help You Stop Taking Criticism So Personally (and Make it Easier to Move On)

1. Embrace the Opportunity.
2. Remind Yourself You Don’t Have the Full Picture.
3. Pause for a Moment.
4. Choose to Hear Feedback Differently.
5. Plan In-Process Time.
6. Distract Yourself.
7. Remember—It’s Just Not About You.

How do you disarm a defensive person?

How can you help someone stop their defensive reactions?

1. Refrain from reacting defensively.
2. Shift your focus to the other person.
3. Ask questions until you understand them.
4. Move toward a resolution.

What should you do when you receive negative feedback?

The last thing you want is to be working away on correcting the wrong issue. 3. If you disagree, do so with tact. It’s a common response to immediately feel defensive after receiving negative feedback, and the truth is that mistakes do happen.

How do you deal with negative people in the workplace?

Suggest the negative person seek assistance from human resources or their manager. Try to steer the person in the direction of getting help with their negativity. If all else fails, talk to your own manager or human resources staff about the challenges you are experiencing in dealing with the negative person.

How do you deal with people who never do anything right?

It’s easy to get flustered or frustrated in the face of tears or when the person says things like, “I never do anything right.” In these situations, Castelda advises, “Let the person know you that are not being mean, that you are trying to help them be successful, and still put the issue on the table.

How do you deal with an employee who is reactive?

If the employee’s behavior is a recurring pattern, you should address the person’s reactive tendency head-on. You might say something like, “I notice every time we sit down to discuss feedback, you get [upset, angry, defensive]. I have your best interests at heart. What can I do to help you receive feedback with more openness?