Can you take constructive criticism? I have to admit that for a long time I really battled with this. In fact, when I first started writing for Families I really struggled with the initial editing process I had to go through. Yet I have quickly realized the teachable moments that are found in constructive criticism.
If you can’t take constructive criticism and I am referring to your career here, then it means that you believe you have “arrived.” You are at the place you need to be and there is no room for improvement.
You cannot grow in your work if you feel that there is no place for making positive changes. Unfortunately we may not be able to personally recognize those things that need work. However others who may have a more objective opinion can reveal things to us that we may be blind to.
My main work as a freelance writer is to write web content for law firms. I have an assigned editor from the company I work for. Her job is to help me improve. That is honestly the way I have learned to take constructive criticism. I don’t look at her as a villain, someone who is out to tear me apart or make me feel bad. I see her as a resource and a means to become a better writer.
Sometimes it’s really about perspective and so that may require making some changes to our perspective about things. Our thinking can be so skewed that we are unable to see the reality of things. In fact, it may even help to not look at these things as constructive criticism but rather, helpful corrections.
You may need to come up with your own terminology depending on your work situation. But if you find it difficult to accept feedback from others that may not be positive then try to look at it in a new light.
Is all of this easy? No, for most people it isn’t. There are definitely days where I begin to think, “Will I ever get it right?” The truth is that I do get it right. My work just needs some refining. I will never arrive at that place where I have become the perfect writer. I will always need to work at making improvements.
Think about how you handle constructive criticism. Do you need to change the way you receive it?
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