Giving and Receiving Criticism

Giving Effective Criticism: Be Positive, Specific, Objective, and Constructive

Effective criticism should be positively intended, specific, objective, and constructive to achieve results.

The most basic rule of effective criticism is to respect the individual and focus on the behavior that needs changing – what people do or say. Effective criticism should be intended positively, specific, objective, and constructive.

Being a Critic: Anyone can be a critic, but people must know how to criticize effectively.

Knowing how to criticize effectively is a skill you will use throughout your life. Being able to give good criticism allows you to be positively influential both personally and professionally. Effective criticism is useful for two reasons: (1) new ideas and perspectives are discovered, and (2) argument logic is tested and may reveal shortcomings.

Techniques of Constructive Criticism

Constructive criticism aims to improve a person's behavior or behavioral results while consciously avoiding personal attacks and blaming. This kind of criticism is carefully framed in language acceptable to the target person, often acknowledging that the critics could be wrong.

Avoid insulting and hostile language. Acceptable phrases begin, "I feel…", "It is my understanding that…", and so on. Constructive critics try to put themselves in the other person's shoes and consider things from their perspective.

Effective criticism should be:

• Positively intended and appropriately motivated. You send messages about how you receive the other person's message, how you feel about the other person and your relationship with them. This will help you construct effective critiques.
  
  
• Specific, so the individual knows exactly what behavior is being considered.
  
  
• Objective, so the recipient gets the message and is willing to act on it. Objective criticism is harder to resist.
  
  
• Constructive. Avoid personal attacks, blaming, insulting, and hostile language. The receiver is less likely to respond defensively if you avoid evaluative language – such as "You are wrong" or "Your idea was stupid."

As the name suggests, criticism should construct, scaffold, or improve a situation. Hostile language or personal attacks subvert this goal.

Effective criticism can change how people think and act. It is the birthplace of change and can be liberating. It can fight ideas that keep people down and unlock new opportunities while consciously avoiding personal attacks and blaming.