It is impossible to become an ideal person and to please absolutely everyone, it is important to understand this. But criticism and remarks about us from other people can be very beneficial if you find the right approach to them.
A person who does not know how to accept criticism is afraid to start a new business if the previous one was not highly appreciated. This is the main negative feature of criticism - it can greatly lower a person's self-esteem. Whoever says what, nobody likes criticism, but you can minimize its negative consequences and take advantage of it.
What is important to understand in order to deal with criticism?
Negative comments cannot be avoided. The more you work and the more you achieve, the more negativity you get. This is completely normal and does not mean that you are doing something wrong.
Criticism can be constructive and destructive. It always makes sense to listen to constructive criticism and draw appropriate conclusions from it. But you don't need to dwell on destructive criticism, its source did not pursue the goal of helping you and did not analyze the situation in any way before expressing your opinion.
How to deal with criticism?
- First of all, when analyzing criticism, honestly answer yourself the question: how much did I deserve such an assessment? Sometimes schoolchildren and students are angry with teachers for low grades, when they themselves did not make any effort to get a high grade. But it is important to remember that all our actions or inaction have consequences. It is important to assess your contribution to the job and how that job is seen by the criticizing person. Maybe you really haven't put in enough effort? Try to take this into account next time, and do a little more to achieve a good grade.
- React not to emotions, but to constructive comments. Sometimes the most valuable and useful advice is hidden behind a surge of feelings, but it is important to listen carefully and analyze the information, and not be offended by its emotional accompaniment. If the critic is too emotional, you need to carefully consider your reaction to his words, not succumbing to negative emotions and reasoning as sensibly as possible.
- Don't lose faith in yourself. As mentioned above, destructive criticism, in which the interlocutor becomes personal, should not worry you at all. Constructive criticism, however, is directed solely towards your work. If you fail at something, it does not mean that you are not capable of anything. It only means that you, like millions of other people, make mistakes, but you are able to learn from them. Remember this when making value judgments in your address.
- Work on problems. Pay close attention to constructive comments, work through them. High-quality work on mistakes will allow you to avoid many problems in the future.
Thus, criticism can be used to the maximum benefit for yourself and your business, if you distinguish constructive criticism from destructive and carefully work on the identified shortcomings.
