Criticism can be helpful, but all too often it comes in a form that’s light on feedback and heavy on snark and sarcasm. That doesn’t make it less valuable: you just have to learn how to manage your critics to get the most useful information out of them.
The folks at 99U have a great guide to managing your critics, especially if you perform, write or do any work in a group or in public. One idea that stood out for us was letting your critics discuss their criticisms within the group before trying to dive in yourself and address the issue. Often it’s better to let the matter settle for a while before approaching the coworker, friend or commenter with your thoughts on the issue.
We’ve discussed how to take criticism before, and how to offer criticism without sounding like a jerk. The idea of letting your critics sort out what’s valid and what isn’t is a sound one, especially if your coworkers are eager to offer feedback or your audience can always be counted on for an alternative viewpoint. Remember, even if it’s difficult to take, criticism can — and should — help you learn to be better at what you do.
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