Improve Your Criticism
Criticism plays crucial role in personal and professional development.
It shows us values which we have to correct or change in order to fill up the gap and meet the expectations of co-workers.
However, the way criticism is delivered can impact it’s effectiveness, and simply people won’t listen to us.
Constructive criticism should inspire for better change.
In this article, we will explore techniques to improve your choice of words in criticism it self and some simple techniques, so sit up and enjoy :)
1. Be Specific and Objective
Unclear and subjective criticism can leave the recipient confused and demotivated.
Provide specific examples what he/she could improve in order to get better.
The point is that people purposely don’t want to make any mistakes at all, because it scares us as hell.
So don’t be too harsh on anyone.
For example:
Instead of:
“Your presentation was a disaster.”
Try:
“In your presentation, you spoke too softly, making it difficult for the audience to understand and hear your key points. Consider it next time, and you’ll do better”
2. Balance Praise with Areas for Improvement
While highlighting strengths is important, it’s equally crucial to identify areas for improvement.
Find a fine line between the pros and cons.
Thanks to that you can motivate individuals to build on their strengths while managing their weaknesses.
For example:
Instead of:
“You did a great job, but your attention to detail needs improvement”
Try:
“Your ability to meet deadlines and communicate effectively is commendable. To enhance it even more, I suggest paying more attention to the minor details to ensure accuracy and precision.”
3. Use “I” Statements
When providing criticism, it’s essential to take ownership and responsibility of your words and avoid sounding like a coward.
Using “I” statements helps to show your feedback more as a personal observation rather than an absolute truth.
Everyone of us makes mistakes so we could been wrong the whole time.
It encourages the other person for an open dialogue and preventing defensiveness.
For example:
Instead of:
“You always interrupt others during meetings.”
Try:
“I noticed that sometimes during meeting, there are some situations where you interrupt others. I don’t want to brag on you but it will be more beneficial to give everyone opportunity to share their thoughts.”
4. Offer Solutions and Suggestions
Criticism becomes more constructive and more easy to take by other individual, when accompanied by potential solutions of the problem or suggestions for improvement.
Provide an actionable advice and doable solutions, you empower someone to make positive changes and overcome challenges effectively.
For example:
Instead of:
“Your report lacks clarity.”
Try:
“To enhance the clarity of your report, consider organizing the information into sections, providing clear headings, and using bullet points to highlight key points”
5. Focus on Behavior, Not Personality
It’s important to remember, that there is a big difference between criticizing someone’s actions and attacking their character.
Focus on specific behaviors or outcomes.
By that, you create an environment where individuals feel safe to evaluate their actions and make improvements without feeling personally attacked.
For example:
Instead of:
“You are lazy and unproductive.”
Try:
“I’ve noticed that you missed some deadlines and have been spending a lot of time on non-workrelated tasks. Let’s discuss strategies to improve your productivity and ensure timely completion of assignments.”
Conclusion
Constructive criticism is a valuable tool.
It helps with personal and professional growth.
By implying it in life you will be able to be more likeable as a boss co-worker or even as a person.
The way you deliver it is also crucial.
You have to keep your tone peaceful, body language calm and words soft, in order to create an environment that encourages learing, improvement.
Thank you, I hope you’ve liked it.
And have a great day ❤
