Nobody likes to receive criticism. It’s typically negative and, depending on who’s giving it, can be a little harsh. As much as we’d like to avoid it, feedback of any kind is essential. It helps us learn and strengthen our skills. The problem comes when we’re faced with it and take it personally. This prevents us from taking anything meaningful out of it. That, in turn, can make us closed off from all critique. Here’s how to handle criticism in a way that benefits you no matter the situation.
Watch your initial reaction
Whenever you get criticism, it’s easy to get offended, use it as a way to shame yourself, or let it shake your confidence. If you’ve put your heart and soul into a project and someone points out anything “wrong” with it, it’s easy to focus on your pride instead of what the person said. These reactions are normal, but don’t let them take over. They’re temporary.
Revisit the critique
Because your first reaction is typically incorrect, it helps to take a step back and really look at what was said to you. Did you read too much into it? Did you project your insecurities onto feedback? Rereading or repeating what was said will provide a fresh interpretation. Reading this to someone else will help even more.
