You are a freelancer and your client is unhappy. His expectations were different. The end price is high for him, the project duration is longer than expected and the client forgets several additional requests that he asked from you. Both parties are unhappy. Negative criticism is there…
Aiming towards productivity in a business or office environment does not only entail positive aspects only. To reach the pinnacle especially in the professional domain one needs to be naturally welcoming of positive and negative feedback. Criticism sometimes discourages you as everyone wants to hear appreciation and acknowledgment all the time. However positive workplace scenario consists of two factors and allows both negative and positive criticism. How you take it depends on the personality and ego but removing criticism from the equation is impossible.
What is positive criticism?
Criticism is the ability to judge and evaluate any phenomenon and usually with negative expression, which may contain a suggestion for improvement. A positive criticism draws attention to the positive aspect of any phenomenon such as “well-meant” or “well-intentioned”, something that is being ignored, disregarded, or overlooked. Positive criticism should provide better orientation, to give answers to how people can act to improve the situation.
What is negative criticism?
Negative criticism represents the ability to judge and evaluate any phenomenon with the purpose of showing that it is mistaken, wrong, false, objectionable, or disreputable. Negative criticism can explain the limitations of an idea or action but usually can hurt people too.
The traditional definition of criticism involves expressing disapproval and discontent from someone or the work they have performed. This can be based on previous faults and mistakes of the individual resulting in serious blame. No one likes to feel inferior by office colleagues or even in personal life but constructive criticism can help improve the situation if taken lightly. Hurtful words can seriously damage sentiments and supportive assessments may also seem similar to bitter condemnation especially for those who give a lot of importance to people’s opinions. If core cultural values such as compassionate directness, humility, and proper surfacing of positive problems are considered then the person under analysis may have no trouble accepting positive critique and may use it to improve minor faults.
Although there are people who tend to take criticism lightly and are open to advice frequently, there are some people who have no idea how to respond to criticism. Dealing with criticism can be learned and acquired over time. It needs serious training and endless patience but it is a skill that can be learned. Negatively taking criticism can seriously impair self-esteem, lower chances of improvement, cause stress, anxiety, and even anger. This can lead to severe problems in personal and professional life therefore it is essential to tackle it according to certain rules. Sometimes in the heat of the moment, most people react with a defensive weapon or maybe indulge in attacking verbally if aggression is not contained optimistically. Allowing yourself to be exposed to constructive criticism may give you a chance to identify weaknesses that might be creating obstacles in your development.
There are ways to maturely deal with criticism. With regular practice, you can achieve the desired patience and be an extraordinary example of a person who takes criticism well.
It’s all about the initial reaction
It is easier to defend yourself when you are bombarded with criticism. That could cost you and damage your impression as a composed individual. Stop yourself from being irritated as it could create a barrier in thinking and evaluating the situation. The moment when you are thrown under the umbrella of criticism you need to stop for a second and decide the plot for the next few minutes. Allow your brain to process the situation and push yourself to remain calm. This cooled off approach can only be achieved if unwinding techniques are applied. For this one needs to practice breathing techniques and do yoga to transform anger and deal with situations respectfully.
Be a positive person
A person who is already viewing with a negative lens tends to decipher every situation negatively. This is where personality transformation comes in as a person with positive approaches and views will find positivity for success. If you are being overly criticized for the nature of work or not being able to complete the deadline, it might hurt the sentiments overall but every negative statement has an element of positivity in it so use a positive perspective to shape the nature of your temperament. A positive person will use this opportunity to improve drawbacks and limitations whereas a negative person will keep sulking in depression.
Learn from criticism
Positive people listen to the critique and move on in life, instead of stagnating themselves. They correct their faults and do not go back to the business repeating the same mistakes. Some individuals do that to avoid being constantly highlighted and criticized in the workplace by colleagues or even in personal life. However, this could be a difficult process for those who have pride and ego issues and think they are always better than the rest. In some scenarios, the person at the receiving end might be wrong and the critic may be right to point out the mistakes. Rather than developing grudges use this opening to be a better person.
Consider it a gift
Constructive feedback can be a hidden blessing as it can allow an individual to get better. Consider the source and do not ignore it if it is coming from someone you dislike or have personal preferences towards the individual. You might have individual differences with the manager or a co-worker in the workplace but a few suggestions and critiques should be acknowledged now and then. This happens in a professional world where personal biases are put to the side and worked in mutual agreement with each other. Focus on the message rather than the person delivering it.
Mistakes and failures: two separates
The fact that you have been projected under negative feedback does not necessarily mean that you are a failure. Every individual needs improvement in certain areas as all of us have pros and cons. Viewing yourself as a total failure will take you down to the lowest level, therefore, ruining confidence. Positive points are widely appreciated but weaknesses mostly need some work to maintain a balance and acquire potency. Each step is a lesson; give yourself time and check where you need improvement.
To achieve positivity in negative feedback the critique should be compassionate as it shows that the person delivering the message is considerate and wants the recipient to progress. The comment should be specific and focused on the topic. The criticism should highlight the areas where the recipients lack and also suggest ways to improve them. Lastly, it should be a match in terms of the recipient’s emotions and sentiments. Hurting people through negativity and bad reviews never allowed anyone to flourish therefore the selection of polite words is essential. After receiving feedback, analyze and process the situation. A wise option would be to avoid debates and arguments. Share your perspective and indulge in a healthy exchange of ideas to get a clear picture. Getting to the root of an issue would allow you to think better and find a focal point for the prospective situations resulting in clarity and a stable relationship with colleagues in the office. A person giving criticism would be productive and humble rather than being oppositional, therefore take it positively and base performance on the feedback received.