Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belongīefore you jump right in with your own ideas for how someone could improve, ask yourself: Am I the right person to be providing feedback on this situation? If it doesn’t directly involve you in any way, you’re best to stay out of it-or you’ll run the risk of seeming like a nosy meddler. Neglecting to do so immediately makes your feedback seem mean-spirited. You shouldn’t just be pointing out a problem-you should be offering a potential solution.
What’s the key word in constructive criticism? Constructive. How do you do that? We’re so glad you asked. Here’s the good news: Constructive criticism really is a good thing-it just needs to be delivered in the right way. The do’s and don’ts of constructive criticism So, with scary stats like that one, it’s no wonder that we’re all hesitant to give this oh-so-important feedback to the people we work with. In fact, a study conducted by PsychTests found that 41% of respondents have actually gotten into an argument more than once with someone because they felt unjustly criticized.
Or, you could potentially damage your relationship with that person. You could tarnish your own reputation by being perceived as bossy or condescending. But, what about offering it? Why is that part so difficult?ĭespite the fact that the very premise of constructive criticism involves investing your own energy into helping someone improve, there’s still plenty of potential for fallout. You get it-receiving this type of criticism is challenging because it pokes holes in our ego. It was as if they heard that one piece of harsh feedback and totally shut down. In fact, psychology research shows that it takes five positive events to make up for just one negative event in our brains.Įven further, we tend to get so hyper-focused on that one perceived flaw (no matter how miniscule it might be!), that it overshadows nearly everything else.Ī separate study showed that constructive criticism actually dulled the lessons that employees took away from their performance appraisals. None of us like being reminded that we aren’t flawless at our jobs, and those negative pieces of feedback are what stick with us. Well, to put it simply, being on the receiving end of constructive criticism knocks our confidence down a few pegs. What makes constructive criticism so cringe-worthy?įirst, we need to answer this question: Why do we all hate constructive criticism so much? We know it almost always leads to positive outcomes, so why does it still make us flinch? And we've included some useful examples of constructive criticism so you can see it in action. We’re diving into everything you need to know to dish out and take constructive criticism like a champ. However, constructive criticism is really only effective when it’s delivered politely and professionally, and getting it right resembles a tightrope walk.įortunately, we’re here to help. It’s what pushes you to become a better employee, and what you rely on to get the best out of everybody around you. And, being the one to offer it usually isn’t any easier.Ĭonstructive criticism is one of those necessary evils in the workplace. Are you groaning and rolling your eyes at the sight of those two little words? I can’t blame you.Īs much as we all love to tout our own desires to grow and improve, there’s no way around the fact that receiving constructive feedback is often cringe-worthy at best.
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