Dealing with criticism can be tough, but sometimes it's exactly what you need to hear.
I don't know about you, but I have a hard time hearing critcism. Which is odd, because as a writer, there are times when an editor might not like something or may suggest changes. Learning to swallow my pride and, instead of trying to defend myself, actually listen to what they are saying and determine if there are places where I could improve, was really difficult.
When you are looking for a job, or adjusting to a new one, you might be surrounded by criticism. So, how can you filter out all of this negative information and get down to the things that you can actually work on? For me, the secret is in thinking about the source of the information and figuring out if the advice is worth listening to.
Here are 3 questions to ask in order to process criticism in a positive way:
- Does the person have experience in the area? - Unsolicited advice from people that don't really know what you are trying to do is a waste of time. You don't have to listen to it, but you should still thank them for their advice. Don't waste your breath on trying to defend your actions. Just smile and nod.
- Do you ask them for their advice and are their comments sincere? - If you asked someone for feedback and they are giving you criticism that is well-intentioned, you may want to really listen to what they have to say. If you have asked for their honest opinion, then you have to trust that they are giving you just that. Even if you don't like what they have to say, give it some serious consideration. When you listen with an open mind, you may find that what they have to say is something that you really needed to hear. You may decide not to take all of their advice, but still, thank them for their honesty and consider how you can use the criticism to improve your work.
- Do they want you to succeed? - If you are confident that they are someone who wants you to succeed as much as you want to, then you should give their opinions a lot of weight. They may be able to see something that you have missed, and it just might be something that will help you overcome some obstacles and get to the next level. Just keep in mind that some people have already given up on their own dreams and don't want to see others succeed. They will criticize other people and try to bring you down. If you think this is the case, then don't let their opinions keep you from achieving your goals.
Even though criticism can be hard to hear, there are times when you might do well to listen to what other people are saying. Especially when you value their opinion and they are someone who wants you to do well. Other times, you might be better off to just thank people for their opinions and promptly ignore anything they had to say.
Do you have a hard time accepting criticism? What do you do to sort out which things are important to hear and which ones you should ignore? Let me know in the comments.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for EducationJobSiteBlog, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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