“Artists teach critics what to think. Critics repeat what the artists teach them.” — Sol LeWitt
Everyone’s a critic.
Well now, how’s that for some common ground?
It’s easier to critique than to create, and the world has no shortage of critics.
In a way that’s a good thing, because if you want to improve, you can find plenty of critics that will give you feedback.
The trick of course is learning how to deal with critics and criticism without becoming without becoming jaded, calloused, or thick-skinned.
I’ve learned so much working in tough areas of Microsoft with seasoned senior critics and coaches of all kinds.
In this article, I’ll share proven practices for dealing with critics and criticism so you can make the most of the critics and the criticism in your life.
Make the Most of Your Critics
What I want to give you are some proven practices for dealing with critics and criticism so that no matter where you go on your journey in life, you can make the most of the critics and the criticism in your life.
By using these practices, you can use your critics to spiral up vs. spiral down, or waste a bunch of energy down dead-end paths or no-win situations.
I’ve been lucky enough to work in some of the toughest areas in the software domain from application architecture to security and performance.
At Microsoft no less.
As you can imagine, working in tough areas means a lot of smart people with a lot of opinions and a lot of heated, passionate debates.
Notice how I said lucky … it’s all in how you look at it.
Make More Room for High Quality Feedback
I’ve been lucky because I’ve been beat up and pulverized by some of the best. In the early days it was tough, but gradually I learned how to use the criticism to continuously improve my work. I learned how to not take it personally.
I learned how to see from multiple angles.
I learned how to better evaluate the sources of the criticism.
I learned how to put people’s opinions in perspective. I learned how to make feedback useful, relevant, and actionable.
I’ve also learned to just as easily ignore feedback that’s not actionable, not relevant, or not useful.
At the end of the day,by making more room for all the high quality feedback, you automatically crowd out all the trivial and the trite.
Life’s too short … make more room for the good stuff.
Remind Yourself That Criticism Doesn’t Reflect Your Worth
It’s tough not to take criticism personally.
But more often than not, we overly internalize negative beliefs.
Remember, criticism isn’t a reflection of your worth.
It’s easy to take criticism to heart, but it’s crucial to realize that one critical comment doesn’t define who you are.
For example, if your boss points out that your productivity has dipped recently, it’s not a judgment on your character. It’s a signal that they want to see you grow and reach your full potential.
When your best friend mentions that you tend to drift off during conversations, it’s not an attack on your friendship or your overall goodness. It’s a friendly nudge to enhance your communication skills.
Constructive criticism is meant to guide and empower you, not to tear you down or create feelings of inadequacy.
When your teacher provides critical feedback on a paper, it’s not because they doubt your intelligence. It’s because they see room for improvement in your argumentative skills.
12 Strategies for Dealing with Critics and Criticism
Navigating the world of critics and criticism presents an opportunity for personal growth and effective response.
Critics can become allies when you find common ground and rapport with them. Seeking their solutions to shared challenges transforms criticism into a collaborative effort.
Criticism often conceals valuable lessons that can improve yourself, your ideas, or your ability to handle critiques.
To maintain emotional balance, avoid personalizing criticism; it typically results from conflicting values, expectations, or rules rather than personal attacks.
Cultivate emotional intelligence to evaluate feedback objectively, keeping your ego in check and responding gracefully to criticism.
These strategies, rooted in purpose and driven by emotional intelligence, serve as reliable guides for navigating critics and criticism effectively.
As far as critics and criticism go, here are a few lessons I learned that might serve you well:
1. Find a way to agree with your critics.
It takes the wind from their sails.
If you first agree in some way, they felt heard.
And you need to establish rapport before you worry about influence (if you first agree with your critic, you have a better chance of persuading.)
2. Turn your critic into a partner.
Ask a solution focused question (e.g. “How, dear critic X, might you solve problem Y?” …)
3. Find the lesson.
You can find a hidden lesson (either for improving yourself, your idea, or dealing with critics)
4. Don’t take it personally.
They’re attacking the idea, not you. There’s a conflict in value or a conflict in expectations or a conflict in rules.
Just about every conflict is a conflict of rules or style – not the person — not you — you simply violated their “rules” or “expectations.”
Some folks are so “task” or “thought focused” you’re not even part of the equation.
You’re just on the receiving end; you’re not even a part of their equation.
The less you make it personal, the more you can address the real issue and avoid chasing the rabbit down the hole, or playing a game of follow the herring.
5. Don’t bring your ego into the equation.
If you keep your ego out of it, you can evaluate from stronger ground.
You can better evaluate whether something is a fact or an opinion and whether it’s relevant, without getting all fired up.
This is an exercise in emotional intelligence.
6. Use your purpose to get back on your horse.
If you do get knocked off your horse, then use your “why” to get back on.
It’s behind what you do, and it’s your fuel to keep going.
It’s like the line from that song — “I get knocked down, but I get up again …because you’re never gonna keep me down.”
7. Focus on what you control and let the rest go.
You control your reaction (the gap between the stimulus and response) You control your effort.
You control your attitude.
Don’t let other people push your buttons.
8. The market’s not ready for it
I learned this from some smart analysts. I had an idea to change the world.
The analysts agreed. I asked Gartner why it might not get adopted.
They said the idea is great, but the market’s not ready.
It surprised me, but at the same time made so much sense.
Some ideas are ahead of their time, just like some ideas are too little too late.
9. Feedback is your friend.
Use it if it’s useful. Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger 😉
As one of my mentors put it, there are always three ways to deal with feedback: 1) ignore it, 2) take it all in, or 3) figure out what’s relevant and actionable, and use it to grow.
10. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.
Sometimes you have to remind people when you’re the messenger, not the message.
11. Have a metaphor for your role.
Are a shepherd ? Are you a coach? Are you a stone-cutter? (consistent effort over time until one day the rock breaks.)
Having the metaphor will help you through thick and thin.
12. Build your support network.
You support network can act as your personal sounding board and help you rationalize any feedback.
They may see things you don’t or have a better perspective.
A few years back I adopted a practice that serves me well.
Each week, I have lunch with an old friend, and somebody new. This tunes, prunes, and grows my personal and professional network.
That’s a small set of distinctions, but they’re incredibly effective and they’ll serve you well.
Hold steady to your course.
Share your gift. Some people know but can’t share. Some people share, but don’t know.
The beauty is when you have the gift of knowing and sharing and you use it well.
Books that Nail this Topic
- Coping with Difficult Bosses by Robert Bransom
- Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, et al.
- Crucial Confrontations: Tools for Resolving broken promises, violated expectations, and bad behavior by by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, et al.
- Dealing with People You Can’t Stand: How to Bring Out the Best in People at Their Worst by Dr. Rick Kirschner and Dr. Rick Brinkman
- Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy Revised and Updated by Dr. David Burns
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