This shouldn't have taken too long to publish after my previous post on John Maxwell's Ten Tips for Giving Criticisms, so my only consolation is hoping that the timing is right for most people who will read this. These tips are again from John Maxwell:
1. Understand the difference between constructive and destructive criticisms.
When you are criticized, it usually feels destructive, but when you criticize, you're doing it to help, so it is constructive. You need to determine the true motives of the critic so you have to ask yourself some questions:
Was it done in public? If yes then the critic's motive can be to destroy you.
Is the critic a very close relative? If yes then it should be constructive.
If it was done in public, that relative wanted you to learn, by all means!
But he should know Maxwell's tips on giving criticisms.*
2. Don't take yourself too seriously. Blessed is he who can enjoy his blunders.
3. Look beyond the criticism and see the critic.
4. Watch your own attitude toward the critic. A negative attitude toward criticism can be more destructive than the criticism itself.
5. Realize that good people get criticized.
6. Keep physically and spiritually in shape.
Physical exhaustion has a tremendous effect on the way we act and react; it distorts the way we see and handle life.
7. Don't just see the critic; see if there's a crowd.
8. Wait for time to prove them wrong.
If you know your action or decision was right, hang in there. Time will prove you out.
9. Surround yourself with positive people.
Enough quality time with positive people will minimize the effect of negative criticism.
10.Concentrate on your mission – change your mistakes.
Most people do exactly the opposite - they change their mission and concentrate on their mistakes. If you run from your task each time you make a mistake, you will never accomplish anything. You will always be in a state of frustration and defeat. The only real mistakes in life are the mistakes from which we learn nothing. So instead of dwelling on them, count on making them, learning from them, and moving on to finish the job.
* Except for the statements under item number 1, all statements were taken from John Maxwell's "Be A People Person".
1. Understand the difference between constructive and destructive criticisms.
When you are criticized, it usually feels destructive, but when you criticize, you're doing it to help, so it is constructive. You need to determine the true motives of the critic so you have to ask yourself some questions:
Was it done in public? If yes then the critic's motive can be to destroy you.
Is the critic a very close relative? If yes then it should be constructive.
If it was done in public, that relative wanted you to learn, by all means!
But he should know Maxwell's tips on giving criticisms.*
2. Don't take yourself too seriously. Blessed is he who can enjoy his blunders.
3. Look beyond the criticism and see the critic.
4. Watch your own attitude toward the critic. A negative attitude toward criticism can be more destructive than the criticism itself.
5. Realize that good people get criticized.
6. Keep physically and spiritually in shape.
Physical exhaustion has a tremendous effect on the way we act and react; it distorts the way we see and handle life.
7. Don't just see the critic; see if there's a crowd.
8. Wait for time to prove them wrong.
If you know your action or decision was right, hang in there. Time will prove you out.
9. Surround yourself with positive people.
Enough quality time with positive people will minimize the effect of negative criticism.
10.Concentrate on your mission – change your mistakes.
Most people do exactly the opposite - they change their mission and concentrate on their mistakes. If you run from your task each time you make a mistake, you will never accomplish anything. You will always be in a state of frustration and defeat. The only real mistakes in life are the mistakes from which we learn nothing. So instead of dwelling on them, count on making them, learning from them, and moving on to finish the job.
* Except for the statements under item number 1, all statements were taken from John Maxwell's "Be A People Person".
