How to Handle Constructive Criticism in a Positive Way
Being criticised can be a tough thing to handle but it is inevitable.?
I’ve always envied people who can graciously accept constructive criticism. It seems I was not born with that trait, as I once struggled to accept criticism throughout my career, even when it was absolutely accurate. And I wasn’t alone.?
Unfortunately, many of us react in a protective and angry manner—or, worse—attack the person delivering the feedback—in the heat of the moment. But the fact is that we must move past it. Constructive criticism helps us understand our weaknesses, which not only enables us to sustain relationships but also makes us more effective at everything we do.?
I have always said to people giving criticism that they need to be partnered with a solution that will help me to correct the situation. If they don’t, the person is not interested in the success of the issue enough to warrant getting involved.?
People that are highly sensitive will go above and beyond to avoid being criticised. And this can feed into our people-pleasing tendencies. Knowing that you exceed the expectations of people in your life can help you feel like you’re “good enough.” I’ve had sensitive employees tell me, “If everybody around me is happy with what I’m doing, they won’t criticise me. Being criticised makes me feel like I am not good enough.” The reality is that everybody gets criticised from time to time — and no amount of over-achieving will make you “good enough” for everyone.
When you run a business that is so dependant on reviews and opinions, you will encounter a customer or audience member – maybe even a reviewer – who wants to tell you how to do things better. It can be hard to deal with; after all, nobody likes to be told they're wrong. But it's not all bad news because sometimes you can use criticism to give you a competitive edge.
Here are some great tips that have really helped me, whether the criticism happened face-to-face or online.?If you’re highly sensitive, I believe they might help you, too.
It makes you consider your working style.?
Constructive criticism can guide you away from poor habits and towards good ones. Consider what you're offering as if it weren't yours in order to be as objective as possible. When you're completely invested in a project, this can be especially challenging, but if you can take a step back, you might be able to see how to enhance your method of operation and prevent any negative outcomes in the future. Do you require a more detailed brief? Was there anything you overlooked while the project was just getting started? The performance deadline—is it too ambitious?
Don't take it personally
Never take it personally if someone doesn't like your work right away. Even if you believe the criticism is harsh, refrain from responding?with an extreme knee-jerk reaction or you may risk permanently harming your chances of working with that client again or you can harm your reputation.?
领英推荐
You'll have moments when you think the criticism is personal, and occasionally you'll be correct. It's crucial to keep in mind that people make mistakes, so try not to take offence at their comments. A good professional, however, is able to consider criticism without reacting as though it were a personal attack.
Feedback strengthens your brand
If you always think you're right but don't get feedback from anyone else, how do you know for sure that what you're doing is any good? When someone points out something that’s not working, hear them out. External eyes on an issue can help you solve problems you weren’t even aware existed. But, don’t take everything you’re told at face-value. You know your work better than anyone else. Their solution might not be what you need but alerting you to the problem could help you succeed.
The right kind of criticism can give you an advantage
Consider this: If you can persuade a customer to tell you — and you alone — how to provide them with the ideal good or service, that is knowledge only you have. This gives you a competitive edge over everyone else in your industry and can be used again in the future to complete tasks even faster. Discover techniques to elicit that knowledge from your client or audience and persuade them to tell you what they really want.
Criticism is a form of communication
No one is perfect. The only way to know where you could improve is to encourage an open channel of communication. When someone criticises what you're doing for them, it's a sign that they want to give you feedback. This is an opportunity for you to understand the person you're working for and figure out how to make them a happy client or audience member. Think before you speak; working with someone who is patient and willing to accept and act on criticism in business implies that both sides can strive toward a better conclusion. If you are open to suggestions around how you might approach things differently, you’ll be perceived as a more authentic leader and it’ll be easier for you to rally a team around a common goal or towards improving shared processes.
If people didn't think you were worth criticising, they wouldn't. To be honest, there are a tonne of things out there that are worth criticising. However, not everyone spends the time to voice their disagreement with something. Why? This is due to their opinion that those things are not deserving of criticism. If someone is giving you criticism, it typically signifies that they find anything about you worth criticising. The most well-known people in the world today, such as Lady Gaga, Steve Jobs, and Oprah Winfrey, all have sizeable followings of haters. Why? It's because each of them upholds a powerful message that shakes and stirs people's spirits. As Winston?Churchill once put it,?“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”
I’m all in for constructive criticism, but you should never allow other people’s opinion stop you from following your dream.
Kerrie Humphrys PTLLS - Founder of Locate Your Look