6 BEST APPROACHES TO HANDLE CRITICISM

We all encounter criticism in various in various areas of our life. Facing criticism has become a challenge for many today but not many realize that it can be used as an effective approach for personal development. You might confront disapprovals either from your manager for various reasons or maybe disapprobation from your family or friends occasionally. But, how often have you considered to think logically and act practically about the criticism you receive?

Let’s look at criticism from a different perspective and use it as a self-help tool to maximize enormous benefits in our life, using these 6 approaches.

1.       Understand: Before you react, understand. You should refrain from getting emotional and taking everything personally. It’s important to understand the context of criticism for getting the most rewarding benefits out of it. To understand, you better listen carefully. Avoid being reactive, be proactive.

2.       Value and Acknowledge: It’s predominant that you value criticism, as it provides a medium for continuous learning and development. Acknowledging criticism makes you understand yourself better and directs you towards excellence.

3.       Personal Development Agenda: Manoeuvre criticism or a personal development agenda.  Use criticism as a feedback mechanism for self-development. Make it a personal development agenda, work on it to remove your imperfections and flaws.

4.       Driving Force: Trust me, when you value criticism and acknowledge it when necessary, it will transform you into a completely new version of yourself. It will no longer upset you, rather it will act as a driving force to be your best version.

5.       Don’t Overstrain: Now here’s a tip, Don’t take your criticism to such an extent that it becomes a source of continuous stress for you. Don’t stress yourself to be a perfectionist. Not everyone is perfect. Remind yourself at times that you are worthy in other aspects of life.

6.       Do thank your Critics: And yes, don’t forget to thank your critics. It’s all their effort. You only worked on it, but it’s your critics who helped you identify your defects. Be thankful to them. Make friends with them.

Some thoughts to get you going:

-          “He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.” – Abraham Lincoln

-           “ The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.” – Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking

-          “ A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.” – John Wooden

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