How to Handle Defensive Colleagues

When your colleague is constantly getting his hackles up about constructive criticism, making progress can be difficult. Defensive colleagues don't mind dishing it out but they can't stand it when someone tells them they are wrong. It can be difficult to move forward in your work when you are constantly dealing with someone who can't take rejection. Here are a few tips on how to handle defensive colleagues.

Handle Defensive Colleagues: Give Positive Feedback First

You can soften the blow of criticism by giving positive feedback first. Tell your colleague that he has good ideas and that you appreciate his enthusiasm, but that there are a few things that he needs to change or improve upon. This might be tough if you don't honestly have anything positive to say, but you'll thank yourself later if you make something up.

Handle Defensive Colleagues: Give Positive Feedback Last

Sometimes the sandwich effect is the best way to handle defensive colleagues. If you give him positive feedback before and after the negative feedback, he'll be more focused on the good things you had to say and will be less likely to react strongly to your criticism. The only problem with this strategy is that he might forget your criticism once you've boosted his ego again, so make sure you got through to him.

Handle Defensive Colleagues: Address the Behavior

If you've gotten to the point where you can't communicate with your colleague at all because of his defensive behavior, your best bet is to address the situation and to hope for the best. Explain as politely as possible that his defensiveness is getting in the way of progress and that he has to learn to accept criticism. Make it clear that you appreciate his efforts and that he does have good ideas, but that sometimes he'd going to be overruled by the majority. That's life.

Handle Defensive Colleagues: Delegate to the Boss