10 Reasons Not to Criticize Your Ex Boss

Talking negatively about an ex boss or company can actually do damage in places where you might not expect it to. Here are ten reasons to avoid being critical of a past employer.

1. Your current managers will automatically think that this is how you would talk about them if you change jobs, in or out of the company. Basically, it's just bad form, and you'll never look cool doing it.

2. Being the bigger person is so much better for your emotional well-being than being the opposite. It's helpful to accept that whomever you were working for brought something good into your life.

3. What comes around goes around. Call it karma if you like, but most of us have seen how this works, so why tempt fate? Keep the negativity to yourself, and trust that things will balance themselves out.

4. If you have any business dealings with your past employers or managers, it's going to make things very difficult if they think you've been bad mouthing them. You never know where you'll end up. How many people do you know who are once again working for companies or with people who once let them go?

5. Everyone eventually tires of the same old song. Your co-workers or business associates may be too kind to tell you, so ask them if your behavior is over the top. Negative people aren't fun to do business with either so maintain an appropriate attitude around clients and team mates.

6. Dwelling on the past is unhealthy emotionally. If you can't stop the thoughts in your head or get past the feelings on your own, it’s usually a sign that you have some unfinished business.

7. Holding on to anger and pain is also physically unhealthy. Check yourself out and make sure you're not neglecting your body and hurting yourself. If you find that thoughts of your past co-workers or managers make you tighten your muscles, spend some time exercising and get a massage.

8. Feeling uncomfortable is a waste of time. If you're like the rest of us, you have far too many other, more positive things to put your time and energy into. Focus on your next goal or most recent accomplishments.

9. If you need to vent, do it with a professional. Maybe your current employer has an EAP (Employee Assistance Plan) that offers some free therapy. This might be a good way to use that benefit.

10. The truth is that working for them wasn't all bad. Remember that you chose to work there for a reason and that you probably learned a thing or two. In addition, just in terms of mental wellbeing, you deserve to keep your memories as nice as possible.
See this as an opportunity to make your life a better place as you remove a reason to not feel good about yourself. Remember that every time you send out negative thoughts, you are also feeling them.

Author's Bio

For more than two decades Fortune 500 companies, educational institutions, and government organizations worldwide have relied on Dr. Barton Goldsmith to help them develop creative and balanced leadership. He is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, business consultant and author. His columns appear in over 500 publications, including the Chicago Sun-Times, the Detroit News, and the Los Angeles Business Journal. Considered an expert on small business, he has spoken worldwide to groups of 10 to 5,000, and is in high demand for Keynotes, Training and Consulting. He may be contacted through his web site BartonGoldsmith.com or at (818) 879-9996.