Tips for Dealing With Criticism

Summary: Anybody who has ever been criticized knows how bad it can sting, but criticism can be a very effective personal development tool. First, determine the critic's motivation. Then analyze the criticism for valuable information that can help you make improvements.

Tips for Dealing with Criticism

Criticism can come in many forms and it var ies in degree ranging from mildly inferred negative feedback to outright insults. Unfortunately, criticism is a fact of life and sometimes it's good to question how well you are handling it.

Despite the sting left by criticism, it can be used as a personal development tool that is valuable in helping people correct their mistakes and make significant improvements to their lives.

Feedback vs. Insults

The first thing a person should do when faced with criticism is make a judgment call to determine whether the assessment c ontains valuable information that can be used as feedback , or if it is motivated from a malevolent standpoint. Many people mistakenly dismiss harsh criticism as insulting when the intention was not meant to be an affront. Just because it's harsh doesn't mean you can't learn from it. On the other hand, malicious or destructive criticism can often simply be rejected as rudeness and is irrelevant to self-improvement.

Processing Criticism

After you have determined if the criticism has value, the process of analysis can begin. If the critic has offered constructive suggestions, determine which ones you can feasibly act upon. When dealing with criticism, it is important to approach it with an open mind to keep from allowing it to turn into a personal issue. In other words, reflect upon the truth that may be contained in the content of the criticism and detach yourself from the manner in which it is presented.

Remember that it is human nature to respond to the discomfort of criticism in knee-jerk fashion, but it is much more productive to accept constructive criticism as an opportunity to grow and become a better person.