How leaders and managers can befriend their inner critic and get ahead at work

We’ve all got an inner critic in our heads. You know its voice: it’s the one who berates you when you make a mistake, who peers over your shoulder and critiques your work unfavorably, or who tells you you’re useless and worthless when things don’t go to plan. Inner critics can thrive in work environments—especially fast-paced environments where there is little room for error, or where you’re responsible for people on your team. The question is how you interact and deal with your inner critic. Obeying them without question is neither sustainable nor healthy. But silencing or completely ignoring them isn’t recommended either, as this can easily lead to reckless or even narcissistic behavior. Fortunately, there is a third way: befriending your inner critic. This is where you treat that inner voice as a loud and raw advisor. Listen to it, learn from it, see it as one more data point—but, crucially, don’t hand it the wheel. Mastering this relationship isn’t always easy, but the results are