Benefits of Constructive Criticism in the Workplace

Criticism, when offered constructively, is important for several reasons: 1. **Feedback for Improvement:** Constructive criticism provides valuable feedback that helps individuals identify areas for improvement in their work, behavior, or ideas. 2. **Learning and Growth:** Criticism prompts individuals to reflect on their actions and perspectives, fostering continuous learning and personal growth. 3. **Quality Improvement:** Criticism can lead to higher standards and improved quality of work by highlighting areas that need attention or refinement. 4. **Accountability:** Constructive criticism holds individuals accountable for their actions and decisions, promoting responsibility and accountability in the workplace. 5. **Building Resilience:** Dealing with criticism builds resilience and adaptability, helping individuals learn to accept feedback gracefully and use it constructively. 6. **Strengthening Relationships:** When delivered respectfully and constructively, criticism can strengthen relationships by fostering open communication and trust. Overall, criticism serves as a catalyst for improvement, learning, accountability, and relationship-building when delivered effectively and received with an open mind.

At the end of every practice, these girls huddle up and point out something that another teammate did well at practice. It's honestly one of my favorite parts of the night. But compliments are easy to give, aren't they? I mean surely you could find SOMETHING nice to say about a teammate? A coworker? A stranger on the street? So last week I had the pleasure of filling in for coach, and we talked about something a little trickier. Giving criticism/critique as feedback. I had two rules: 1. It must be said with a kind tone and positive intention (these are teen and preteen girls so it's not always sunshine and rainbows with the tone- teen parents feel me?) 2. It must be actionable. Don't say "your jumps didn't look the best." Be specific. "Hey I noticed you're dropping your chest in your toe touch. If you focus on keeping your chest up and rotating your hips toward your chest, you'll get a better toe touch overall." The girls practiced feedback in this manner all night, and wouldn't you know, tiny improvements were happening throughout the routine. Did it make the girls uncomfortable to call out teammates? For some, absolutely. Was it helpful and necessary? Also yes. Giving constructive feedback on something a teammate can do better is such an underrated skill. In the workplace we may find ourselves shying away from the conversation for fear of the person's response or hurt feelings, etc. However, if your feedback is given with a kind tone and positive intention, and is actionable, it's perfectly appropriate to share! We can't fix something if we don't realize we are doing it wrong 🤷♀️ So what say you? How do you feel about giving or receiving criticism or critique at work?

I've learned that one of the most valuable assets is finding colleagues and friends who are unafraid to provide honest feedback. These individuals are direct but kind, constructive yet candid. They're the ones who'll tell you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear. Why is this so crucial? -- Growth: Honest feedback can jumpstart growth. It helps you identify blind spots and areas for improvement. -- Innovation: New ideas and perspectives often emerge from these candid conversations. -- Trust: Open and honest feedback strengthens trust and fosters stronger professional relationships. Not sure where to start? Considering asking someone whose opinion you value answer 3 short questions: -- What should I start doing? -- What should I stop doing? -- What I do more of? You are bound to get rich, actionable feedback!  

Feedback can sting. It can bruise our egos and make us defensive (my ego was bruised in the picture when my daughter wasn't feeling my kisses 🤣). But feedback often serves as a compass pointing us towards growth, highlighting blind spots we can't see ourselves. Why feedback is essential: - Illuminates areas for improvement: Feedback shines a spotlight on our weaknesses, offering us a roadmap for self-improvement. -Fuels professional development: Constructive criticism catalyzes learning and mastering new skills. -Enhances self-awareness: Feedback provides valuable insights into how others perceive our actions and behaviors. 💡But feedback must be delivered with empathy: ✅Focus on the behavior, not the person: Instead of saying, "You're always late," try "I've noticed you've been late to several meetings recently. Is everything okay?" ✅Use "I" statements: Frame your feedback as observations rather than accusations. For example, "I felt unheard during our last meeting" instead of "You never listen to me." ✅Offer specific examples: Vague feedback is unhelpful. Provide concrete examples to illustrate your points. ✅End on a positive note: Acknowledge the person's strengths and express your confidence in their ability to improve. Remember: Feedback isn't a personal attack. It's an opportunity for growth. But it takes an open mind and a willingness to listen to truly benefit from it. So, the next time you receive feedback, take a deep breath, set aside your ego, and listen for the gems hidden within. You might be surprised at what you discover. #feedback #personaldevelopment #empathy #growthmindset #professionaldevelopment

Being a good people manager requires a unique skill set to allow your to handle your team(s) and manager(s). One of the skills is the ability to deliver negative feedback. Turning negative feedback into a growth area is indeed my all time choice. Turning negative feedback into a growth area involves reframing criticism into constructive insights that can lead to personal or professional development. Here are a few examples: Example: Communication Skills Negative Feedback: You don't communicate effectively during team meetings. Growth Area: You will focus on improving your communication skills by actively participating in meetings, practicing clear and concise messaging, and seeking feedback from colleagues on your progress. Example: Time Management Negative Feedback: You often miss deadlines and seem disorganized. Growth Area: You will enhance your time management skills by using tools like calendars and task lists, prioritizing tasks, and setting realistic deadlines to ensure timely completion of projects. Example: Technical Proficiency Negative Feedback: Your technical skills are not up to par with the requirements of your role. Growth Area: You will improve your technical proficiency by enrolling in relevant courses, seeking mentorship from more experienced colleagues, and dedicating time each week to practice and enhance your skills. Example: Customer Service Negative Feedback: You are not handling customer complaints effectively. Growth Area: You will develop your customer service skills by attending training sessions, learning conflict resolution techniques, and regularly reviewing and reflecting on customer feedback to improve your approach. Example: Leadership Negative Feedback: You don't provide enough support or direction to your team. Growth Area: You will work on becoming a better leader by improving your delegation skills, providing clear and consistent feedback, and being more accessible to your team for guidance and support. Example: Adaptability Negative Feedback: You are resistant to change and have difficulty adapting to new processes. Growth Area: You will increase your adaptability by staying open to new ideas, seeking to understand the reasons behind changes, and being proactive in learning new processes and technologies. Example: Collaboration Negative Feedback: You tend to work in isolation and don’t collaborate well with others. Growth Area: You will enhance your collaboration skills by engaging more with your colleagues, participating in team projects, and actively contributing to group discussions and brainstorming sessions. By reframing negative feedback in this way, it becomes a roadmap for personal and professional growth, providing clear, actionable steps to address weaknesses and build strengths.

🪨Sometimes criticism can hit you in the gut like a rock. 🪨 This is especially true when you've poured your heart and soul into your work. It's a challenge I observe in many recent graduates (especially artists!) struggling to realize they’re tasked with executing someone else’s vision. However, embracing feedback is truly essential for continued personal development. I've recently come to view feedback as an act of kindness, I see it as an opportunity for improvement and a sign that someone cares enough about you to invest in your growth. Don’t get it twisted, the key to being able to accept constructive criticism lies in the foundation of trust within the company/ group culture. Feedback needs to be delivered with empathy, sincerity, and constructiveness. Without trust, it's challenging to accept and act on feedback effectively. Recently, while discussing curriculum improvements with my mentees, I was given direct criticism about a specific book I’d assigned. Despite my initial encouragement for the mentee to embrace the material, repeated discussions revealed a strong conviction against it. More heartbreakingly, these sentiments were shared by others in our group. Instead of taking it personally, I recognized the value in their feedback. This open and honest communication was possible because we had nurtured an environment where speaking out was safe and encouraged. The weight of letting my mentees down could have crushed me, but rather it was used to build a better curriculum next cohort. Straight up. The next cohort will not have to read material deemed ineffective even if I found to be prolific in my personal journey. I want to remind everyone that feedback (whether it's for a mock interview, a resume, a cover letter, assigned work, projects, art, whatever) should be a sign someone wants to help build you up. If it’s not, let’s examine where the trust break is occurring and how it can be repaired. Note to self— do a series on trust. #trust #feedback #professionaldevelopment

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧. Feedback and criticism is essential for collaboration because if you don’t welcome feedback, eventually you push others away. Coworkers become worried about upsetting you, and then stop sharing what they really think about your work. You become alienated and disconnected. It’s not a natural motion. Often for young people, getting feedback immediately triggers a defense response. Any criticism of their work is taken as a personal attack, especially if they are used to seeking validation from parents, teachers, or social media. The common management hack here is the “shit sandwich,” where effusive praise is given before and after the criticism in hopes to sidestep the ego. But this (at best) is just misdirection. It only feeds the problem more. The best people I’ve worked with all demand critical feedback. They want it immediately, directly, and clear. They lean into tension and approach discomfort with curiously. They embrace this because they know greatness comes from the struggle. It can take years to learn how to ask for feedback and process it. But if you master this, it becomes a superpower for incredible personal growth and new opportunities. An open mind and a great coach can help a lot. Hard but worth it!

Feasting on applause while fasting on feedback? We all love the warm, fuzzy feelings that come with praise. It's human nature. But... That's not where your most significant growth happens. Praise is a pat on the back, a 'well done.' It's important. It validates us. But it doesn't push us to grow, stretch, or break out of our comfort zones. Criticism, on the other hand, is the raw, unfiltered nutrient that fuels progress. It's the tough love that prompts us to take a hard look at ourselves, to identify our blind spots, and to work towards bettering our skills. Don't get me wrong, praise feels excellent. But it's criticism that helps you level up. It's criticism that forces you to shatter your glass ceilings. It's criticism that makes you unstoppable. The next time you ask for feedback - don't just accept praise - ask: "If you were in my shoes, what's one thing you could do better?" Encourage honest, constructive criticism. Embrace it. Listen to it. Learn from it. And most importantly, grow from it. After all, the biggest room in the world is the room for improvement. So, are you ready to step into that room and start growing?

- Is Debate Dead? - Are we silencing the true power of DEI? - How Can We Revive It for a More Diverse, Equitable & Inclusive Future? "True leaders understand the value of disagreement, not for conflict, but for the birth of new ideas." – Simon Sinek I've noticed a growing trend where discussions tend to have become one-sided. This should concern us all, as constructive criticism, feedback and debate are vital for growth and learning. Especially with all the controversies surrounding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), that the corporate world, education system and government has consumed themselves with. By definition, DEI should be supportive of Healthy Debate, Feedback and Constructive Criticism! (D) Diversity: the condition of having or being composed of differing elements: VARIETY - you won’t find much “variety” in a one-sided conversation. (E) Equity: justice according to natural law or right… specifically: freedom from bias or favoritism - you will only find “Bias” and “Favoritism” in a one-sided conversation. (I) Inclusion: the act of including: the state of being included - Not hard to argue this one, as one-sided conversations by definition, exclude all other varying viewpoints. DEI should support and encourage people to consider the importance of open, two-way communication in fostering a truly diverse and inclusive environment. I could make an entire book discussing why this DEI era has been skewed so far out of context, but I’ll save that controversial discussion for another day. Here’s why open dialogue (Debate, Feedback & Constructive Criticism) is crucial: - Encourages Diverse Perspectives: Every voice matters. By allowing different viewpoints, we enrich our understanding and foster inclusivity. - Promotes Learning and Growth: Constructive criticism is not about pointing fingers but about sharing insights that can lead to improvement. - Builds a Culture of Trust: Open communication, where all opinions are valued, creates a more trusting and collaborative environment. - Drives Innovation: Diverse thoughts lead to innovative solutions that wouldn’t emerge in echo chambers. As leaders and professionals, it's our responsibility to encourage conversations that respect and value different perspectives. This doesn’t mean compromising on values or tolerance, but rather ensuring that communication is a two-way street, and all voices are equitably heard. Equitable hearing of all voices is a fundamental principle of democracy. It ensures that every individual’s opinion is heard and considered, regardless of their background, race, gender, or social status. #Leadership #DiversityAndInclusion #ConstructiveCriticism #Collaboration #Communication How are you fostering open and constructive conversations in your workplace? Share your strategies and let’s champion a culture of inclusive communication!