Making any form of criticism is easier said than done. However, anyone who hopes for success in their work and careers has to learn how to accept criticism. Criticism that is constructive is helpful in a way that it gives feedback that provides explicit and attainable suggestions, experts say. In fact, learning how to accept constructive criticism has the ability to help a person retain professional relationships and also grow successful in what they do. Mathias Nkeeto an educator says constructive criticism is vital because it helps the recipient improve and ensure that mistakes do not happen again. “Criticism at the workplace does stimulate professional and personal growth; that is if you know how to deal with it effectively,” he says. When it comes to taking criticism, experts urge that it’s important for one to stay relaxed other than appear defensive. Also, Nkeeto says it’s fundamental to keep your emotions under control, which in the end will enable you to listen better. And if possible, one can take some deep breaths and keep their body language open, he says. Besides, it’s essential to engage in with good listening skills without any interruptions. When criticised, Kevin Shema, an entrepreneur and a supervisor says it’s vital to keep an open mind since your superior/colleagues may have good reasons for giving you such criticism. Besides that, he says they also might have valuable suggestions for areas where you can improve. For that, you should lay respect for their point of view, Shema says. “When you are patient with this kind of criticism, you are able to be receptive to new ideas and alternative approaches thus helping you learn something that can make your job easier,” he adds. Additionally, Shema points out that when responding to criticism, it’s vital to ask questions which will show that one is really listening. “It’s as well essential to make sure that you lean towards a productive discussion at the end and try to minimise as much as possible unnecessary arguments.” Nkeeto notes that focusing on the message being given to you, so that you can distinguish between the content of the message and the manner of delivery is important as far as taking positive criticism is concerned. There is also a need to conduct a self-appraisal, whereby this can be done by regularly evaluating your own work. This, he says, will give you a stronger foundation for reflecting on your superiors’ and colleagues’ remarks. Delivering constructive criticism Establish trust; it is important to establish an open, trusting relationship with the team or colleagues. Trust is the baseline that will help the set tone of your future conversation, and help you deliver feedback and help them accept it and put suggestions into use. Balance the positive and the negative; giving constructive criticism on whether the feedback is positive or negative is important to make sure you’re presenting a balanced perspective. Observe, don’t interpret; don’t assign meaning or intent to someone. Observe, and give them the opportunity to explain their perspective. Be specific; focusing on specifics is one of the best ways to give constructive feedback. Don’t make it personal; when giving constructive criticism, it is important to remember to distinguish a person from their actions. Focus on the issue at hand, whether it’s a pattern or performance on a specific project, without making broader claims about who they are. Provide feedback consistently; make your feedback have the impact it deserves by the manner and approach you use to provide performance feedback. Feedback can make a difference to avoid provoking a defence response. Be timely; don’t let days or week pass by before you give someone feedback on their work, especially when it comes to a specific project.
