1. One of the toughest kinds of criticisms to handle is an unjust accusation.
Even though it’s tempting, don’t stage a comeback with equally
defensive, biting or embarrassing personal remarks. The accuser may have
just been misinformed. Instead, ask the criticizer questions and probe
into their comments. Often, there is some underlying cause for their
accusation. If it’s truly unjust, you’ll be able to mend
the problem and state the facts right there on the spot.
2. If you immediately assume the defense, your critic will feel as
if their message just hit a brick wall, and they’ll keep trying
to insist and focus on the problem. By listening constructively, you’ll
indicate that you’ve heard their criticism and that you intend
to follow up on the problem. Even better, ask the critic what THEY would
do differently if they were in your situation. Chances are, you’ll
get a lot of feedback and perhaps some solid ideas and suggestions as
well.
3. If the discussion becomes heated, lower your voice for every level
your critic raises theirs. This shows not only that you’re calm
and collected (even if your blood is boiling underneath), but puts the
spotlight on the other person, embarrassing them to some degree because
they were unable to maintain a reasonable tone and temper.
4. Show that you’re more interested in solving the problem than
arguing for your point of view. Sometimes, an honest critique can be
a delicate way of informing you of a particular problem that no one else
notices or wants to share. Don’t be too quick to defend yourself
or judge your accuser, and take the complaints and suggestions in stride.
Chances are, it will give you some insights into improvements you can
make that you ordinarily may have overlooked or not even considered.
5. If the issues begin to get out of hand, and you feel yourself starting
to lose your cool, take a deep breath to gather your thoughts and ask
your accuser for specific details and points that led them to bring this
item to your attention. You may uncover the heart of the real matter
and the real reason for their biting remarks, and it may even be something
totally unrelated to the matter at hand!
Remember though, you can’t please all the people all the time. Some
people are simply never satisfied. Overlook these shortsighted individuals
and know deep down that you are making positive progress despite their
attempts to drag you down. When you know that you’ve done your best,
the bitter pill of criticism will feel more like a hearty dose of good
medicine, and that makes all kinds of criticism easier to take.
About the Author
John Higginbotham has been on the internet for over 6 years and has extensive
knowledge on internet marketing. He writes to motivate his audience as
well as educate them on various subjects. You may visit his website at http://www.degree-online.info/. |
