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Tags: self improvement, self esteem, giving constructive criticism
 How well do you handle criticisms?
Nobody's perfect, that's true. And it's a world of personalities out there. Of course, it's inevitable to have some individual differences arising here and there. And sometimes, out of these individual differences, we tend to have certain prejudices against others; this is where criticism comes in. It's so easy to criticize if we don't like a person, especially if they're not doing something exactly to our liking, or their lifestyles are exactly opposite ours.
Ask yourself--why do you have to criticize? Is it because you want attention, you're trying to win an argument, or because you're trying to improve someone? Well, if you have to criticize, why not the latter---it's called constructive criticism.
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Yes, it's a tricky situation--wherein you have to say something helpful, sans offending the other party. You know what--it's all how you deliver.
1) Break it to them gently; bear in mind that they didn't come knocking on your door for advice. This is you dishing out unsolicited advice/criticisms. When it comes to constructive criticism, approach with caution. You'll never know that they can be sensitive, or the timing may be a bit off.
2) You may not know the whole story. Before you storm off in a wild outburst, before you react violently, constructive criticism is also about knowing and understanding the real score first.
What could you have done if you were in their situation? Things can be quite complex than they seem.
3) Constructive criticism is about suggesting some solutions. Don't simply point out weak points without presenting solutions. What's done is done and there's no point trying to bring back problems unless you help how to solve them.
4) Ask "how" instead of "why". Though "why" can be an innocent question, it can be perceived as showing judgment than asking--though it's not your intention. There's a better alternative: the "how"--it's sounds like showing curiosity rather than confronting. Try it--how one word can entirely make a whole difference in the tone of the conversation when it comes to giving
constructive criticism.
About the author
The author of this article, Amy Twain, is a Self Improvement Coach who has been successfully coaching and guiding clients for many years. Amy recently published a highly successful home study course on how to boost your Self Esteem. Learn more about this Quick-Action Plan and have a Fabulous Self Esteem.
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