4 Reasons We Should Embrace Feedback — Even if it is Criticism

Let’s be Honest

Being scrutinized never feels good. It can cause you to feel judged, like you’re insufficient, regardless of how enthusiastically you attempt to accept it. Most reactions to criticism are to get defensive, make excuses, or blame someone else. None of those options are especially constructive.

It’s up to you on how to decide to respond to the feedback. Our brains are only wired to see the feedback as an opportunity or as a threat. The word criticism has a negative connotation immediately if you place the discussion or feedback in that category. You can see it as a personal attack, or you can embrace it, extract the positive from it, and move on.

The success and acceptance of delivering the feedback are highly dependent on the degree of trust between the individuals. “Achieving a balance between closeness, distance, and constructive criticism requires openness, courage, and trust on the part of both the researcher and the participants” (Svensson, 2007). If you feel skeptical about criticism having any benefits, here are the four reasons to extract the best out of feedback or criticism:

1. Use Criticism for Personal Growth

Typically, analysis has an excess trace of validity in it, regardless of it being delivered harshly or delicately. That’s partly why it makes you uncomfortable, deep down it rings true, even if you don’t want to admit it.

Consider the analysis as another component in your self-awareness toolbox, one that offers insight you might otherwise miss. If nothing else, observing and managing how you react to criticism can shine a spotlight on your triggers, your unconscious reactions, and assumptions.

2. Develop Your Emotional Resilience

Criticism typically comes loaded down with feelings. Learning to embrace criticism can help you become more emotionally resilient as you learn how to sit with your uncomfortable emotions instead of blindly reacting. The more you listen and accept the input as a gift, the more you will grow. No pain, no gain.

Practicing detachment takes you to a mental place where you can use your analytic problem-solving skills. You can listen, assess, examine, and understand what lessons to take away from the experience.

Embracing criticism can also help you step away from needing other people’s approval to feel good about yourself. Once you see criticism as potentially helpful feedback, it stops being a judgment of you as a person.

3. Improve Relationships

When you quit responding (or over-responding) to feedback, you allow more space for openness, genuineness, and better communication. People will be able to talk with you without feeling the need to tread so lightly.

Embracing also criticism creates much better relationships, as there are fewer barriers or ‘off-limits’ areas for discussions. You don’t want to be seen as touchy, difficult, or defensive, nor do you want to have your self-esteem dependent on other people’s opinions of you.

4. Boost Self-Confidence

Embracing criticism can free you from the curse of perfectionism. If you acknowledge that committing errors is human and that being scrutinized will be a reality for the rest of your life, you will be taking a step in the right direction. This is not something any of us want to do, but it should be something we realize we need to do. Acknowledge that criticism is a part of regular day-to-day existence and you’ll become more confident, happier, and freed up to be your best you.

Take one small step forward today and each of the days following to invest in four areas of; Personal Growth, Emotional Resilience, Improve Relationships, and Self-Confidence. You, and everyone you interact with, will be thankful that you did.

We hope you found this article valuable on “The 4 Reasons We Should Embrace Feedback — Even if it is Criticism”. You can find more Management and Leadership knowledge on our website www.MagnaLeadership.com. We are trusted advisors for executives of small to mid-sized organizations who realize an investment in emerging leaders solves their growth and engagement challenges.

Dr. Kevin Gazzara — is a senior partner and founder of Magna Leadership Solutions, based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is the author of “The Leader of OZ” www.leaderofoz.com. He is an international speaker and recognized as a Management & Leadership Expert and a Positive Intelligence Executive Coach. Kevin is a professor at 5 Universities developing and teaching programs to help others achieve their full potential. You can follow Kevin and Magna Leadership Solutions on our website: www.magnaleadership.com, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/doctorkevin or our Facebook Fan Page at https://www.facebook.com/MagnaLeadership

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Thank you, Dr. Kevin Gazzara Senior Partner at Magna Leadership Solutions

References

Svensson, L. (2007) It’s being close that makes it possible to accept criticism! International Journal of Action Research, p. 278–296