3 Ways to Respond to Criticism

By Pamela Jett

Being on the receiving end of criticism or dissatisfaction can be a challenging situation for any professional. It is difficult to respond to criticism in a professional and productive fashion. Here are three tools that can make doing so a lot easier.

1. Do not say “I’m sorry” when responding to criticism. If your leader is dissatisfied with something you have done and tells you so, a more professional way to start your response is with something along the lines of “you are right – thank you for pointing this out to me” or “I apologize (a very different message from’ I’m sorry’) - thank you for taking the time to tell me.” Saying “I’m sorry” is a weak form of communication. Using a more powerful form of communication will enhance your credibility and professional image – even under challenging circumstances.

2. Instead of saying “what don’t you like about..?” say “what would you change about…?” By using “what would you change about…?” you increase the likelihood that you will receive feedback that is truly constructive and helpful. One of the challenges many leaders face is that they spend so much time telling people what is wrong that they forget to tell people what right looks like. By using this simple turn of phrase, you help your leader stay focused on the positive and decrease the likelihood that they will dwell (to excess) on the negative.

3. Become comfortable with the phrase “next time I will…” When a savvy professional receives criticism, they will focus on what they learned and how they will apply what they learned next time. This keeps the conversation focused on the future and reinforces that you are a professional who learns from their mistakes.

Sometimes small changes in our word choices can make a profound difference in our success. Professionals who use one or all of the techniques above will find handling criticism in a confident manner substantially easier. If you have a way of handling criticism with tact and finesse, e-mail me, Pamela@JettCT.com, I would love to learn from you.

Pamela Jett is a communication skills expert who believes that words matter. She works with organizations, associations and individuals who want to improve their communication skills for business and personal success. She can be reached toll free at 866.726.5388 or at her website www.JettCT.com .