We’re all going to have to criticise someone at some point or another. While there are a lot of ways to avoid being a jerk, business blog Fast Company suggests keeping it short to maximise impact.
Photo by Andrew.
It’s tempting when giving feedback to keep going until you feel better, get your catharsis, or get some indication that the person you’re criticising understands or agrees to your point. However, that may distract from the person mulling over your input and may risk turning them off to your advice:
Length doesn’t correlate to success when it comes to delivering negative feedback; long conversations confuse as often as they clarify. Your goal is to communicate the negative feedback, not to produce a dazzling epiphany, a heartfelt apology, or a ton of emotive dialogue. Once you’ve communicated your message, get out of the conversation, and allow time and space for the feedback to work.
In general, the golden rule applies just as much here as anywhere else: while it may feel good to keep explaining yourself, you probably wouldn’t enjoy it if someone was criticising you ad nauseum. Let the input speak for itself and move on. Fast Company has a few more tips on how to render useful criticism. Check it out at the source link.
Feedback Without the Fireworks: How Not to Be a Negative Creep [Fast Company via 99u]
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