In Mumbai v. RCB, an Indian cricketer, Yuzvendra Chahal, dropped catches from three high-ranking batsmen. When asked about this event to the captain, Virat Kohli, instead of criticizing Chahal for his performance, replied earnestly that this was one of Yuzvendra’s best matches because he had learnt something out of it. This experience will further help him and Indian cricket for years to come. This constructive approach by Virat Kohli directs us towards our topic today, which is dealing with professional criticism.
Criticism, in itself, is one of those words which have a negative connotation to it, but that is not always the case. Everybody, at some point in their professional lives, faces criticism. It can either be constructive or destructive. Webster defines it as the act of expressing disapproval and of noting the problems or faults of a person or thing; the act of criticizing someone or something; a remark or comment that expresses disapproval of someone or something.
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Criticism can sometimes be hard to accept, but it is necessary. It might also be a gift in disguise. Accepting criticism and learning from it is an important life skill. There is a fragile line that separates positive criticism from negative criticism. The key is to identify constructive criticism and to take it positively to improve oneself. The definition of Constructive criticism is criticism performed with a compassionate attitude towards the person qualified for criticism. It is said to motivate people instead of demeaning them and making them lose their morale.
Dealing with criticism is not always as smooth as a hot knife through butter. One should always try to remain calm and treat the person with complete respect and understanding. If you feel that you may lose your self-control or say something that may potentially damage your position, then you must leave the room to take time to gather yourself. One should always be aware of their body language and ensure that they do not seem defensive.
An example could be to not sit with your arms folded or to make eye contact. Also one should remember to take deep breaths to reduce their stress level and give their emotions a chance to simmer down before one gives a response. Dealing with criticism at work can be challenging, and an open body language will go a long way in making the person more comfortable.
One must always try and not take criticism of their work performance personally. It is important to remember that the objective of criticism is not the person but their work. The point I am trying to drive home here is that handling criticism at work is never enjoyable. However, it is possible to learn to make the best of it. It is healthy to nurture a culture of feedback in the workplace. If you are especially sensitive to receiving criticism, you may want to ask yourself why. It may just be a matter of adjusting your inner dialogue to combat a lack of self-confidence or perceived inadequacies.
As Joe Namath has said, “there are some things that you only learn through experience”. One should ensure that one learns something from the mistakes made. As people walk through their journey of life they get plenty of opportunities to learn and improve themselves. Therefore, no matter what kind of criticism one faces, one must analyze it to find something useful.
It is said that what cannot be learnt through education, training and observation is learnt through experience. Learning through criticism is a form of learning through experience. So listen carefully and try to see things from the other perspective. Use criticism wisely. Who knows, you might learn something about yourself.