Take Criticism, Not Offense
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©Depositphotos.com/[olly18]
We have all thought it before, and I’m sure a lot of us have even heard it. If I owned this place. These words are usually followed with some sort of cross suggestion to make the place better. But how do you handle those words? How do you weigh constructive criticism over critiques? Does the way it is presented make a difference? Does who is doing the critiquing make a difference?
As business owners, managers, sales people, etc we need to be prepared to adapt. Criticism is a necessary part of both business and professional development for growth. We’d all like to think we know best – how to run our businesses efficiently, how to sell better than anyone else – and a lot of the time we do. But feedback and concerns of others help keep us in check.
Some of the way we receive these criticisms has to do with the way that comments are presented. If a customer or even a superior is harping on you, it’s difficult to hear anything but what you’re being told is wrong. Realize that you don’t have control over the way that these messages are presented. The best thing to do is to try and listen to what the core problem is, despite the fact that it may come across poorly.
So if you’re the one under the microscope, how can you easily take it in stride? One of my favorite ways to turn that situation around is this:
- Let the critique source know you appreciate the feedback. By doing so allows the other individual to know that you respect them taking time to give you their opinion.
- Reiterate what their comments were to ensure that you understand.
- Share a plan of action. That plan can look like a lot of different things: finding a way to implement change, taking an idea to a respected individual for their insight, or even realizing that it may not be feasible to do the things that are asked of you and explaining why.
Critiques and criticisms come in many different forms and from many different directions. Some are easier to take than others, and some are impossible to escape. But no matter what front they come from, there is always something to be learned. Keep your ears open and don’t let a heated comment get the better of you. Who knows, someone just might have an amazing idea.
In his second solo Reman U article, Kendrick (aka the Dapper Dan of Reman) shares tips for handling criticism – and how to not let it get the better of you. Like what he has to say? Share your thoughts in the comments or with Kendrick directly!
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