Taking Criticism With a Grain of Salt

by Kori Rodley Irons | More from this Blogger

22 Oct 2007 11:11 AM

I hate being criticized. As Zen as I try to be in so many areas of my life, I really do not take criticism well-especially when someone criticizes me for something I didn't really want to do anyway! As thick-skinned and as level-minded as I try to be, getting notes, e-mails, phone calls, etc. of criticism can set me aback. I have to work on being able to take criticism with a grain of salt...

Criticism can be extremely helpful, of course. We know that getting feedback from customers, clients, colleagues, etc. can help us to make necessary improvements to the way we do business. Writing it out helps me to see how completely reasonable it is that I should be able to take and use constructive criticism. I know in my head that I cannot be perfect and that I will make plenty of mistakes-daily-but when I'm in the midst of being on the receiving end of criticism, I can forget!

Instead, I get defensive and my hackles rise ("Who are you to be telling me what to do?!"). I know better, but that is my initial reaction. Still, we need criticism; I need criticism-but I don't have to deal with it in the heat of the moment. Since I recognize my tendency to get irritated and defensive, I have learned to just say thank you, accept the feedback, and let it sit for a day or two before I am able to get things in perspective. I find that I am much less likely to make a big deal or get snarky if I give myself some time to get used to the fact that I have been criticized. After all, it might be helpful criticism and it might not-but by letting go of my intense emotional reaction, I am in a better position to decide if I can use it to make my business and work operations better.

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