Thanking Critics

How angry have you become in the past when someone has criticized something you have done?   I know for me personally I’ve become extremely upset, to the point where I’ve nearly made long lasting decisions simply based on someone else’s simple honesty.  I believe it is very natural for us to become defensive, hurt, and upset when someone criticizes us but, truly the best leaders and most successful people in life value and welcome it.   In fact, in most cases they seek it. 

Criticism offers us two things—a new perspective and a chance to improve.  (Notice that I didn’t say it offers us an opportunity to get upset or justify poor behavior.)   By heeding criticism, we can do more or be better than we ever thought possible.  Criticism is not always bad.  If we embrace it, it has the potential to make us much better people and help us gain much greater results.  Time and time again it has been proven that different points of view most often produce the best results. 

Criticism is hard to accept because it means we are wrong, or at least we are imperfect and don’t have all of the right answers all of the time.  Listening to the opinions and judgments of others can make us better, encourage us to tweak and refine our work, and push us to superior results.  The truth is, many times people know more than we do and heeding their advice will benefit us if we allow it to.  In fact many of the best athletes, authors, artists, businessman, etc., actively seek correction because they want to be the best.  Seeking others point of view will help us know what we can do better as often we can’t see it.  And only having good critics can help us get to where we want to be. 

This being said, not all criticism is always valuable.  Many times people share information or opinions on things they really have no idea or expertise on.  Some people criticize just to criticize and this isn’t helpful so we should be careful.  For example, I would not put much value on criticism from a professional golfer on how to shoot a basketball nor would I put much value on how to successfully drive a golf ball from a professional basketball player.  Part of truly capitalizing on criticism is knowing how to act on good counsel.

If we sincerely want to be our best, we must accept criticism as an opportunity and chance to improve.  Placing value on criticism will make us stronger and more successful and will help us to reach our full potential.  I know this can be very difficult but with a conscious effort and understanding of its value, I know we can do it and by so doing, we will have improved results.   Good luck!