A crucial life skill is knowing how to respond positively to criticism. You will receive criticism at some point in your life, possibly in a professional setting. Sometimes accepting something will be challenging, but how you respond will determine that. You can either utilize criticism constructively to get better or destructively to undermine your self-worth and trigger stress, rage, or even aggression.

There are two kinds of criticism: constructive and destructive. By learning to distinguish between the two, you’ll be better prepared to deal with any criticism you might encounter. 

Anyone can criticize, condemn, and complain, but it takes strength of character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.

How comments are made distinguishes between constructive criticism and harmful criticism. Both sorts of criticism involve criticising your beliefs, traits, or skills, but destructive criticism can wound your pride and have a detrimental impact on your confidence and self-esteem. Although destructive criticism is frequently the result of someone else’s carelessness, it can also be intended to be nasty and malevolent. In some circumstances, destructive criticism can trigger rage and/or aggression.

Contrarily, constructive criticism aims to not only point out your errors but also to point out where and how you might improve. Instead of putting you down, constructive criticism should be seen as helpful input that can help you become a better version of yourself. Even while it still stings, constructive criticism is typically simpler to swallow. Always try to keep in mind that you can utilise criticism to your advantage in either situation.

A man who won’t accept responsibility for his errors will never succeed.

If you know someone who always has something negative to say, try not to take them too seriously because this is simply one of their personality traits. If you do take criticism to heart, it can lead to hostility and resentment toward the other person and harm your relationship. Keep in mind that it’s not you who needs assistance rather it’s people who constantly criticise everything or say unpleasant things to cause offence that need assistance.  Depending on the type of criticism, where you are, and who is making the criticism, it will affect how you physically respond to it.

 

The most important thing to keep in mind is that no matter what the situation, you shouldn’t react out of anger since this can produce a scene, foster negative feelings, and possibly give you a terrible reputation.

Some quick tips on how to respond to negative feedback are:

• Be a good listener and don’t react right away. 
• Show appreciation for the other person’s feedback.
• Be sincere and apologize if necessary. 
• Summarize the feedback you’ve received to make communication more effective. 
• Take action and make a difference. 
• Ask for more feedback. 
• Receive feedback with a growth mindset. 
• Empathize with the feedback giver.

It’s human nature for us to make mistakes often. We all have numerous opportunities to grow as people as we travel through life. Therefore, no matter what criticism is made of you, examine it to see if there is anything you can take from it. Try to take constructive criticism to heart to get better, whether it be in work, school, or social clubs. Although it can be difficult to accept when someone criticizes your character, you should not dismiss it.

Remember that the criticism directed at you might not have made sense at the time. In general, even criticism that seems to be offered out of spite and venom often contains some truth. It tends to be the case that criticism of your character accurately reflects how another person perceives you at the time. Consider taking a step back and trying to see things from the other person’s perspective. You may even ask a friend for an honest assessment. Try to gain some insight into how people see you; you might be able to use criticism to develop your interpersonal skills.

We all learn from our shortcomings, and one approach to strengthening our associations with others is to develop good ways to respond to criticism.

Strong is a person who softly absorbs negative attacks. (Dr. Sakir Yavuz)

 

At ATAFOM University International, we offer constructive criticism for the betterment of humankind.