Attitude towards labor criticism. Constructive and destructive criticism. How to react

Criticism is an ambiguous phenomenon. It hurts someone a lot, and for another it becomes a good incentive to move forward and develop. Someone gives up when he hears critical phrases about what he does or thinks. And, perhaps, a very interesting idea remains unrealized. And someone does not pay any attention to criticism at all, continuing to stubbornly move along the chosen path. In some cases, this brings success, in others - complete failure.

We all react to criticism differently. We all have to deal with it at one point or another in our lives. And our attitude towards criticism, as a rule, does not change throughout life. Does this mean that someone who learned to painfully accept criticism in childhood will still be forced to suffer from this quality of his until the end of his days? Not at all, psychologists say. Understanding what criticism is constructive and what is called non-constructive, as well as learning how to respond to it adequately, can turn the desire of other people to criticize your actions to your advantage. This skill is especially relevant at work, because in the process of joint actions every now and then you have to listen to the comments of the management.

Useful construct

The main sign of constructive criticism is the clear desire of someone who questions the reasonableness of your thoughts or actions to help you. That is, his words are intended to contribute to your successful solution of some problem.

This becomes possible in the presence of several important components. First, the critic must be an expert in the field in which he chooses to advise you. Perhaps this is a leader who has a lot of experience. And he is quite capable of giving practical recommendations for the employee. If this is not about work, then the critic should have his own personal experience in the topic on which he decided to criticize you. Otherwise, all this is empty talk and destructive criticism.

Secondly, although none of us can be completely objective, it is still worth trying to be as neutral as possible about the situation. Only then will it be possible to look at it more fully. Accordingly, the opinion will be expressed with the greatest benefit.

Thirdly, constructive criticism always has specifics. That is, your words, thoughts and actions are not evaluated in general, not on the basis of emotions, but on specific points, facts, results.

Fourthly, it is important that the critic can give clear and weighty arguments, examples in favor of his opinion.

Fifth, there should be no assessments of you as a person. Only what you have done or said is criticized. Your character, appearance, demeanor have nothing to do with it.

The rules of constructive criticism also imply that the critic is sure to notice the positive aspects of your actions, words, or ideas. This is important, because in no thought or deed can everything be “bad”. The one who is being criticized feels that he has done something right. It inspires and helps to calmly accept the rest.

This is the exact opposite. Its main “symptom” is the lack of specifics and too many emotions.

As a result, a stream of information that is difficult to systematize is poured on you, from which you can usually only take one thing out: you are wrong, but why exactly the speaker thinks so remains a mystery.

1. Getting personal is a big mistake in the process of criticism. As a rule, this is direct evidence of the speaker's incompetence. And also evidence of his self-doubt. In this situation, the "best" method for the illiterate critic – attack the opponent, in a figurative sense of the word, of course.
2. Sometimes people, including ourselves, being emotionally involved in the process, are simply not able to argue their position. Such methods do not work. It turns out unfounded criticism, which does not give the expected effect.
3. The critic begins to cling to the words, instead of looking at the essence.

If a very sensitive person becomes the object of unconstructive criticism, he may simply stop doing something at all. And when it comes to personal relationships, it is quite capable of simply turning around and leaving. That is why criticism should not be destructive.

Learning to Criticize

All this is an occasion to think about how you yourself criticize other people. And learn how to do it right. After all, criticism is also a kind of art, a technique .

And if you understand that obviously unconstructive criticism is directed at you, what should you do?

• Don't start doubting yourself. Your self-esteem is not at all a thing that can be manipulated depending on someone's mood.
• It is worth listening: what if there is a reasonable grain in the stream of incoherent proposals?
• It makes sense to think about why this happened and you became the object of unconstructive criticism.
• It is important to maintain emotional detachment. The critic often seeks to draw you into emotions. Here it is easy to follow his example and start pouring on the opponent not at all what is needed. It's not far from a serious conflict
• You can listen to everything, and then give yourself time to think - do not answer right away.

As for constructive criticism, it can be very helpful. Just learn to separate words about your actions and ideas from yourself. And then you will have good tools for growth. You can even thank the person who criticized you. This is the usefulness of such criticism.

No matter how unshakable your sense of "I" is, listening to criticism is always more difficult than taking a walk in the park. But part of life in this universe, especially in that part of it that takes place at work, is to be able to take criticism.

You have a job, and you can work well or badly, or maybe you just work tolerably. Perhaps your salary depends on the quality of the work. Some firms hide this process under different names like "quarterly report" or "performance management" (like you're a solo opera singer), but it really depends on what the boss or colleagues say about what they like about you. and what you need to improve in yourself.

Criticism constructive and non-constructive

Constructive criticism is about your own best interests and is offered to help you become the best you can be. Consider that all criticism you hear is constructive and that you are on the same side as the one who evaluates you. He wants you to enjoy the work you do and to get better at it.

Unless your boss is a known tyrant and selfish, what he tells you will be quite valuable. The more you believe in your abilities, the easier it will be for you to accept criticism as constructive. Remember, they do not evaluate you, but your activity.

In general, you get the opportunity to become better at what you do. If you were perfection, you would be bored and not here - there would be nothing left to learn.

So accept criticism and try to find a use for it. This is easier to do when the criticism comes from someone you respect, and the critic delivers it as if they wish you success. If you don't feel like you're getting enough of this kind of criticism, ask those who work close to you for it. You can use criticism as a guide to improvement, advice for advancement, or just remember it for the future.

However, sometimes - well, more often than sometimes - you find yourself under a hail of criticism delivered with the tact of snakebites. Non-constructive criticism, even if there are some good intentions hidden in its depths, is just a way to say nasty things. If you feel like you've been criticized in an unconstructive way, relay all the comments to some friends outside of your job. This may be a critical attack made from the heart, but after receiving an objective opinion, you may consider it constructive.

Unconstructive criticism hurts more than helps - instead of saying "You should work on this," "that" is presented as a character defect. Non-constructive criticism is often personal and not related to what you are doing. If the critic doesn't like the way you do your job, that's one thing. If the critic does not like you personally, this should not figure in any way in assessing your work.

One way to deal with this problem is to discuss with your boss the reasons why certain types of criticism are not productive for you. Some companies even have a system in which subordinates criticize superiors (often referred to as "reverse management"). If your immediate supervisor does not accept this, or where you work does not have such a system, you can discuss this with the Human Resources Department or other supervisory agency.

Page 1 of 2

Is criticism constructive?“Can I criticize you constructively?” These are the six scariest words you can ever hear in your life. Partly because each of us has a different idea of ​​constructiveness, and partly because no matter how benevolent criticism is, very few people are able to deliver it well.

And also because some people use it as a convenient excuse to, pretending to be cute, lower your status by a notch or two.

For one reason or another, criticism usually looks much more constructive from the point of view of the critic than from the point of view of the criticized.

So is the expression " constructive criticism» self-contradictory?

I'll put my cards on the table: I believe that criticism can be constructive. In fact, it is necessary if you want to become outstanding. However, since criticism means many different things, I will start by explaining what I understand by its different types:

Constructive criticism

This is when someone has a certain opinion about your work or results, and he expresses it in a way that is beneficial. Criticism can take the form of useful advice (you are told what to do) or just a thoughtful assessment (what to do next, in this case you decide).

Constructive criticism can be both positive and negative (the critic may or may not like your work), and contain both praise and recommendations for improvement.

Here some constructive criticism:

• Objectivity The critic clarifies his point of view without claiming to be omniscient.
• concreteness- detailed enough to understand what exactly the critic is talking about and what evaluation criteria he uses.
• Availability of examples The critic backs up his statements with concrete examples.
• Relevant to the case- The critic focuses on the essential aspects of your work.
• Takes into account the nuances- the critic recognizes that the result can be measured in smaller units and there may be alternative ways of evaluating.
• Respect- The critic does not get personal, does not hint that you are a bad performer, and implies that you are able to make the necessary improvements.

Inspiring constructive criticism or not - you decide. Of course, if someone praises you, you will most likely feel energized. But even if the critic exposes many mistakes and shortcomings, I would advise you not to lose heart, even if you are not in seventh heaven with happiness.

If criticism is truly constructive, it provides an opportunity to correct mistakes and improve. I can think of several occasions when a critic respectfully but mercilessly "teared my work to shreds," but when I left the room, I was itching to move towards the vistas before me.

One of your career goals should be to find good sources of constructive criticism. Like feedback, it gives you an edge, especially over those who are too selfish to take any notice.

Destructive criticism

This is when someone has a certain opinion, but he either does not know how to express it correctly, or does not understand what he is talking about, or both at once.

I call such criticism destructive because of its effect: if you are not careful, it can seriously damage your motivation, creativity, and ability to learn. An equally precise definition would be "incompetent criticism": it speaks more about the faults of the criticizer, rather than the criticized. If criticism is an art, an incompetent critic is an artist who can barely draw a stickman.

Here typical features of destructive criticism:

• Bias- The critic speaks as if he is the bearer of the ultimate truth, and not a person who tends to err.
• Nebula- the work is rejected with vague wordings (“terrible”, “bad”, “no good”), without specifying on what criteria the judgment is based.
• unsubstantiated- the critic does not illustrate his conclusions with specific examples.
• Not relevant- The critic introduces inappropriate criteria or focuses on non-essential aspects of the work.
• sweeping- general black-and-white judgments, non-recognition of the gradation of quality and alternative points of view.
• Contempt- the critic is rude, aggressive or does not show respect for the feelings of the performer.

If an incompetent critic is a reviewer, a critic in the audience, or an Internet troll, he can be ignored. However, if it's a boss or a client, you have a problem. Chapter 37 describes what to do then.

We often face unfair criticism. It is extremely difficult to take it calmly, because it is injustice towards oneself that a person endures extremely painfully. But responding to instincts with a scream is a destructive strategy. Then what to do? First you need to work on your instant reaction. Not automatically responding to an irritant is a sign of a very strong-willed person, but in our particular case, this approach will help to cope with unconstructive criticism.

Working on the Primary Reaction

Instant reaction to criticism is incredibly important - a lot will depend on how you behave. You can drag your opponent into a conflict or get out of the situation very competently.

Here are four steps to take in order not to say too much in response:

stay calm

It is very easy to lose your temper if you are unfairly accused and pour righteous anger on everyone, but at the same time significantly ruin your reputation. Therefore, immediately after you have been subjected to unconstructive criticism, take a break and do not think about anything. Take a few deep breaths and try to calm down. You will think later.

Find a pivot

Don't put pressure on yourself to find the most ideal answer, because most likely nothing useful will come to your mind at that moment. Instead, use the old trick: calmly repeat the criticism to this person to make sure you get it right. Look the person straight in the eye and ask, “So you mean that…” and convey their criticism in your own words. So you show him exactly how you took his words.

If his words really can be interpreted ridiculously, then the criticism was unfounded. However, be careful to speak to the point and avoid the temptation to exaggerate what the person has told you. For example, if he says that your sales system is producing mediocre results, by no means respond with: “So you mean that my sales strategy will kill the company?”. This response will put you on the defensive and show that you are in tune with . Instead, make it clear that you want to genuinely get to the bottom of the matter.

There are three ways to respond to unconstructive criticism:

• Respond aggressively and go into conflict.
• Keep silent, feel depressed and hold a grudge.
• Focus on your reaction and give the person back their criticism. You do not accept or reject it.

Expand both points of view

The tactic of objectively repeating and returning a remark can piss off the critic and cause him to back off. If so, then it's time to start a real constructive discussion. If you choose this method, then as often as possible start the phrase like this: “From my point of view ...”, and when you feel that the person is ashamed of his criticism and his pride is hurt, you can use this phrase: “We had a misunderstanding. It happens to everyone, don't worry. This way you will not only earn respect, but also continue a constructive conversation. Also try to see the situation from his point of view. Maybe he is right about something.

Stay Polite

If, however, after you have returned the criticism back to the person, it comes back to you, then it's time to buy some time for a good answer. You made it clear that you took the words exactly as they were intended. You can thank the person for the feedback, especially if it's your client. Do not show anger, because it can swing the pendulum.

Certainly it is very difficult. You always want to respond rudely and with anger to the person who unfairly accused you of something. However, this tactic has no advantage. The best way to react is not to be offended at all. Set yourself up in such a way that you react calmly to any criticism or even insult: “What makes you think that I'm a fool?”. Do not forget that if a person is furious, and you are calm, it is noticeable to the public and people see who is who in reality.

Unconstructive criticism from the boss

If your boss criticizes you, then the problem becomes more confusing. Set up a one-on-one meeting with him and listen to him. Are you sure that criticism is not constructive? If you still understand that he is right, draw the appropriate conclusions.

If you are sure that you have been accused unfounded, remain tactful and express your point of view. Try not to make excuses, just tell him what you think about it. It should be understood that even if your boss realizes that he was wrong, this may infringe on his pride. Therefore, try to smooth the corners as much as possible and let him know that there was just a misunderstanding. Never try to convince your boss that he is wrong. It's nobody's fault, it happens.

Taking the discussion in a constructive direction is the best way to deal with unfair criticism.

Increase self-esteem

Of course, after such criticism, your self-esteem already suffers. Even if you know that you did everything right and do not deserve such treatment, yours may go down. Therefore, first of all, take care to increase confidence in yourself and your abilities.

Remember that the flaw lies precisely in the criticism and perception of the other person, and not in you. You have not become worse, you have not received good feedback, which means there is no reason to worry. Practice and stay optimistic. Be in order to understand that your skills are good enough and criticism is unfounded.

We wish you good luck!

Today we will talk about what is constructive and destructive criticism what should be attitude towards criticism, how to respond to criticism. Any person engaged in some business, or even just openly expressing his opinion, his position on some issue, will certainly be subject to criticism to one degree or another. Moreover, the more his path or his position differs from what the majority does or thinks, the more criticism he will hear in his address.

What to do in this case, how to respond to criticism? All this in today's article.

To begin with, a lot really depends on a person's attitude to criticism. For some people, criticism acts as an incentive for moving forward, for others, on the contrary, it is a destabilizing factor. The attitude towards criticism can greatly affect relationships with other people, and not only with strangers, but also with loved ones. And finally, there are many examples when a person suffered serious setbacks just because they did not want to respond to criticism. And, on the contrary, when people refused promising and successful projects because they were criticized.

Reaction to criticism- a very important quality for any person, no matter what he does. Attitude to criticism can lead to serious, both for the better and for the worse.

To figure out how to respond to criticism correctly, you first need to determine what type of criticism it belongs to.

Types of criticism. Constructive and destructive criticism.

So, let's look at the main types of criticism. There are only two of them.

1. Constructive criticism is an expression of one's opinion for the purpose of providing assistance. In this case, the critic evaluates your actions or your position, wanting to help you, to bring some benefit. Constructive criticism can be expressed in the form of an objective analysis or in the form of some advice, recommendations for improvement.

Consider the main signs by which you can determine that this is exactly constructive criticism:

– Objectivity. Expressing his opinion, the critic does not claim to be absolute truth, he emphasizes that this is his personal position, his opinion;

– Concreteness. The critic points to specific details or points that he questions, while not saying that absolutely everything is bad;

– Argumentation. A person who criticizes gives concrete arguments, substantiates his position, shows what his criticism is based on;

– Examples from life. Criticizing, a person gives specific examples from his personal or someone else's life, which confirm the course of his thoughts;

– Business knowledge. The critic himself is well versed in the issues that he criticizes (for example, he has a specialized education, experience, personal achievements);

– No transition to personality. A person criticizes, showing respect, does not get personal, criticizes not the opponent himself, but his actions or beliefs;

– Pointing out the positives. The critic points out not only the shortcomings, but also the advantages of your work or your position.

Constructive criticism allows you to see your shortcomings from the outside and correct them. With the right attitude, it can bring considerable benefits in any business.

2. Destructive criticism- this is an expression of one's negative opinion aimlessly, or for selfish purposes. In this case, the critic does not at all want to help the one whom he criticizes, he does it with some low goals or without them at all.

Let's highlight the main reasons for destructive criticism:

– manipulative influence. The critic thus influences the opponent in order to incline him to some action that is beneficial to him;

– Envy. A person can simply envy another person, and from this try to look for shortcomings in him and openly point to them;

– Feeling of self-importance. There are people who criticize for the sake of the process itself and getting moral satisfaction from this. This is also destructive criticism in its purest form;

– Non-standard thoughts, the path of development. If a person stands out from the crowd, thinks and acts differently from the majority, then there will be many who want to criticize him just because he is not like them. Such criticism is also not constructive.

Now consider the main signs indicating that this is precisely destructive criticism. Basically, this is everything that is opposite to constructive:

– Bias. The critic clearly demonstrates that everything he says is the unconditional, 100% truth, which cannot even be questioned;

– Lack of specifics. Simply everything is criticized, general, vague formulations are used: “everything is bad”, “everything is terrible”, “this is wrong”, “this is futile”, “well, who does that”, etc.;

– Clinging to trifles. The critic actively criticizes the most insignificant aspects that do not have much influence on the overall process or position;

– irrelevance. A person constantly and actively imposes his criticism, on his own initiative, when no one asks him about it, and even makes it clear that his opinion is not interesting;

– Transition to personality. The critic expresses his opinion not about actions and judgments, but about the person himself, and all this in a disrespectful manner.

Destructive criticism does not bring any benefit, but only harm. Its main goal is to unbalance a person, to force him to abandon his deeds or thoughts in favor of criticism.

Now that you know what constructive and destructive criticism is, let's look at how to respond to criticism.

How to respond to criticism?

First of all, I want to make a very important point:

If you do not know how to respond to criticism correctly, if you gladly accept praise, and perceive any negative assessment “with hostility”, it will be difficult for you in anything. In this case, criticism will hinder you in all your endeavors, spoil your relationships with other people, and make you an angry and irritable person. It is necessary to use constructive criticism for your own good, and draw conclusions from destructive criticism. You will be subject to criticism in any case, even if you do everything perfectly. It will not be possible to avoid it, therefore the main thing is to form a competent attitude towards criticism, to know and understand how to respond to criticism in a given situation.

The reaction to criticism in a literate person should begin with determining the type of criticism, that is, whether it is constructive or destructive. By what signs this can be determined is described above. So, consider how to respond to criticism.

1. Do not lose self-esteem and faith in yourself. Even constructive criticism should in no case be a reason for underestimating one's own self-esteem and loss of self-confidence.

2. Separate emotions from helpful tips and advice. Often, both constructive and destructive criticism can be emotional to some extent. However, really useful remarks, tips and recommendations can be “hidden” between emotions. When listening to criticism, immediately separate all emotions, let them pass by your ears. But on constructive comments, advice and recommendations - on the contrary, focus your attention.

3. Don't respond to criticism right away. Reaction to criticism should be deliberate. Often a person who is criticized, especially if they criticize emotionally and destructively, also falls under the power of emotions, responds in the same vein, criticism develops into a quarrel, relationships deteriorate. Who benefits from this? Nobody. Therefore, it is better to silently listen to criticism, and if it requires a response, take a pause for reflection.

4. Use constructive criticism as a help. Since constructive criticism is intended to help, take advantage of it, use it to your advantage. That is, analyze and draw conclusions.

5. It is impossible not to react to criticism at all. Even if this is destructive criticism, you need to understand what caused it, perhaps some significant threat looms over you, and this is just the beginning?

6. Don't take criticism to heart. At the same time, when thinking about how to respond to criticism, try to discard all emotions. The fewer of them, the more you can accept.

7. More important is not the motives of the critic, but the essence of the criticism. It often happens that a person who is criticized, first of all, tries to understand why he aroused such interest, what relation the critic has to him, what he wants to achieve. But the essence of the identified shortcomings is much more important, especially if it is constructive criticism.

8. If different people criticize the same thing - this is an occasion to think. It's one thing when one person sees a certain flaw, his opinion can be subjective, but when different people talk about it, you should think about it.

And finally, a very important rule:

A smart and competent person engaged in self-development, striving for success and self-improvement, must be able to identify not only explicit, but also hidden criticism, and respond promptly to it.

For example, a subordinate will not openly criticize his boss. However, according to some of his actions or words, a competent boss himself should notice criticism, and if it is constructive, then respond to it.

I will end with this. Now you know what constructive and destructive criticism are, how to determine the type of criticism and how to respond to criticism in both cases. I hope that this information will be useful to you, and you will begin to apply it in practice.

I wish you success in all your endeavors! See you at!