At a recent job review, my boss told me that my writing skill, which I’d been told by previous employers is my greatest strength, is, in her opinion, my biggest weakness. I was shocked. I like my job and want to stay, but I’m finding it difficult to cope with the fact that I am working for someone whom I don’t see eye-to-eye with. – Melissa

J.T.: To start, I’d look at the good news – at least you know what your manager wants you to work on – some people never know! Moreover, you like the job. So, this is a matter of looking at the situation from a different perspective. If you think of your manager as your client – one to whom you sell your services by being her employee – then it should be easier to accept that you need to give her what she wants, even if you don’t agree with it.

Dale: Speaking of a new perspective, here’s one: Criticism can be a compliment. I’m not talking about nagging or carping, but about sincere opinions about how you can get better. A boss who doesn’t really care about you will likely take the easy way out and just give you all high ratings and compliments. Everybody is happy : but is anyone learning? For your boss to make suggestions proves that she cares about you and your work, and proves that she thinks you can get even better. If you think of such criticisms as compliments, you will get better. If you merely take affront, you’ll find it “difficult to cope” and will merely get defensive.

J.T.: You’ll need to look at this as an opportunity to broaden your writing appeal. Writing effectively comes in many forms, and while you may prefer your current style, there is nothing wrong with figuring out how to write in a way that others might appreciate more.

Dale: Here’s what might be happening: Most business writing should be so clear that the style of the writing disappears. If previous managers have complimented your writing, it may well be that you are over-writing, calling attention to your style. Your manager’s approach to writing may be a revelation for you, giving you more options. And what if your boss is all wrong about writing? Well, one exercise used in writing classes is to try writing poorly : knowing what’s bad helps you appreciate what’s good.