Learn to Thrive on Criticism

When you become a leader, it is a given that you are putting yourself out there and are, in-turn, opening yourself up to criticism. But does that have to be a bad thing? The only way to avoid criticism is to say nothing and do nothing that upsets the status quo; but even that isn’t a guarantee. If you are going to be a status quo maintainer, you will be also setting yourself up to have a team that lacks creativity, innovation and doesn’t generate new ideas. Criticism can be a good thing.  In fact, some leaders thrive on it. If you’re proposing new ideas and taking action to implement changes to improve the organization, you are guaranteed to generate a fair amount of criticism. And, the more successful you are, the more criticism you are likely to generate as a leader. Criticism can be tough to deal with when emotions, personalities, and egos come into play. However, being on the receiving end of criticism doesn’t have to be a negative experience. We encourage you to embrace it and learn from it.

So, how can great leaders benefit from criticism and take their leadership to an even higher level? Below are six tips to help you not only deal with criticism but thrive on it and become an even stronger leader.

On the Right Track – Winston Churchill once said, “You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” When someone criticizes something you wrote, said, or did, consider the source. It may confirm your belief further, and give you the confidence to keep moving forward.

Look for the Lesson – Although you may not agree with the overall criticism, there may be a piece of the critique that is accurate and could help you improve. Great leaders are set on their vision, but flexible on the details. If someone points out an area you could improve on, take advantage. They just helped you get closer to achieving your vision.

One Day Rule – Criticism can create strong emotions that drive you to respond immediately. Don’t do it. Avoid the temptation to meet their level of emotion – or up it. That immediate response is usually one of defense. Read, listen or acknowledge instead. Then, wait a day. After the initial emotions have dissipated, you’ll be in a better position to respond to the criticism in a constructive and positive way.

Don’t Get Derailed – Great leaders don’t let criticism throw them off the tracks leading to their vision. One reader of our blogs recently sent me a nasty email disagreeing with one of my points. I wanted to email him back defending my point of view. Recognizing that the email would trigger another round of disagreements, it was a whole lot more productive for me to write next week’s blog instead. When you feel yourself getting defensive, quickly take action to remind yourself of the bigger picture – your vision.  

Reverse Paranoid – If you truly believe that everyone is out to help you, not hurt you, it makes it a lot easier to listen to criticism and figure out if there is a piece of it you can use to further your vision and goals. Your critics did all the work to identify potential weaknesses – take advantage and make improvements.

Price of Success – In today’s electronic world, just about anyone can scrutinize your work – anonymously – which is a whole other level of brutality. Some of the criticism will be helpful, and some criticism will be provided simply to hurt and discourage you from taking risks or making changes. If your goal is to avoid criticism, then strive hard to do nothing, say nothing, and above all else, maintain the status quo. Great leaders know that criticism is inevitable and learn how to deal with it in a productive way.

We know criticism is inevitable in leadership. A thicker skin may certainly be a valuable asset, but don’t let your skin grow so thick you become arrogant. Arrogant leaders truly believe, to their own detriment, that they have nothing left to learn. Stay focused on your vision, learn what you can, and allow criticism to be just another piece of feedback that motivates you to reach even higher levels of success.