CRITICISM
“Criticism may not be agreeable but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body; it calls attention to the development of an unhealthy state of things.”
—Winston Churchill, former British Prime Minister.
Never be afraid of criticism. Embrace it. It’s a gift. Learn from it.
When offering feedback, you want the recipient to listen. You don’t want them to be defensive. So, begin offering constructive criticism by asking permission to provide feedback. When someone knows beforehand that they are about to receive constructive feedback rather than pure criticism, it will put their mind at ease.
Start with explaining your intention. Why are you offering this feedback and how can you help? Choose a location that’s confidential. Don’t provide criticism in front of others who don’t need to be present.
Praise in public. Criticize in private.
Be respectful of the person’s dignity and choose your words carefully. Try not to put the receiver on the defensive.
Feedback that is most likely to be well received and acted upon is feedback that comes from someone you trust.
Someone you believe is looking out for your interests—like a coach. If someone doesn’t trust you, they won’t care what you think about their performance and they won’t change their performance to please you.
Provide constructive feedback by pointing out the problem and asking for reasons why the problem arose. Then, ask the people involved if they have ideas for a better approach or more effective solutions. Avoid imposing a solution. Instead, draw out ideas from the people involved in the problem by asking the right questions.
One of the guidelines for giving constructive criticism is that it should be focused on a particular situation and not a general behavior.
Never be afraid to ask others for their constructive criticism. Accept it and offer it graciously. Offer it to others only when your intention is to help them and make that intention clear.
When receiving criticism, don’t be defensive. Look at the criticism as an opportunity to learn and grow. See it as a gift rather than a setback. Use it to improve yourself and to become even more formidable.
