Defensiveness, accountability and learning to respond professionally when your work is challenged
The client proposition
Review notes are part of professional development, yet trainees can experience them very personally.
A review note may trigger:
Those reactions matter because professional learning requires people to remain open enough to examine their own work.
This session therefore treats receiving challenge and feedback as part of professional ethics and professional growth.
A real developmental issue: Separating self-worth from work quality.
The trainee needs to move from:
“This review note is a judgement about me.”
towards:
“This is information about my work from which I can learn.”
This does not mean every review note is automatically correct. The deeper skill is responding with curiosity, accountability and professional dialogue rather than defensiveness, withdrawal or blind compliance.
SAICA competency connection
SAICA's lifelong-learning outcomes are particularly useful here. Trainees are expected to take responsibility for their development, actively participate in feedback opportunities, focus on development points communicated through assessments and seek feedback from supervisors and managers.
There is therefore a strong link between ethical professionalism and the willingness to learn from challenge rather than merely comply with it.
This session includes:
Why a Training Officer would choose this session
This is where positive psychology and professional development can add considerable depth.
The session does not simply teach trainees to “accept feedback”. It builds self-regulation, learning orientation, accountability and professional dialogue.
