Why You Should Embrace Constructive Criticism
You’re not going anywhere unless you learn to learn. You know it’s a never-ending process and the only right way towards success, especially when it comes to career growth and acquiring a stable life. You need to strive towards learning newer things and embrace constructive criticism with open arms.
In gatherings and workplaces, commenting on one another’s work, receiving feedback is a normal practice. We know the feedback may not always be positive and constructive. And it may, at times, shake your confidence in your performance substantially.
However, you must not ever let it overwhelm you. You ought to use it to build yourself further and grow. Why exactly is that so, here are some benefits to help you get a clearer idea.
Benefits of Embracing Constructive Criticism
1. Encourages Growth
Undeniably, handling criticism at work is a daunting task. On one side, the criticism feels like an attack on your capabilities. Meanwhile, the criticism offered by a work colleague makes it difficult to respond without being offensive. It is your job placement, after all.
However, it would only feel like an attack when your ego stands out. For once, try listening to criticism without letting your ego interfere. You’ll notice how much it has to offer!
Constructive criticism is an opportunity in itself to unlock your true potential. You can access all those better and creative ideas to make your performance much more improved.
Rejecting constructive criticism can push you into a deep trench where there are no opportunities for improvement. You keep on doing the same thing repetitively because you are so comfortable. But, sometimes, getting out of the comfort zone can make things a whole lot better.
2. Lowers Stress Levels
Some of us constantly fret about what others would think of us or our work or our actions. We continuously fret whether or not their opinion would match ours. We worry about what if they do not like it the way we do. And all of this builds up an enormous amount of stress.
However, once we train ourselves to accept whatever they say, we will be able to maintain a more peaceful state of mind. It will lower our volumes of stress, allowing better room for growth. Also, with a calmer mind, you will be able to focus better on the grounds of improvement. And the whole scenario will propel you towards acquiring a state of perfection.
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3. Find Good Friends
Sitting at the office desk, listening to your colleague highlight the errors in the work-you probably would be feeling angry and offended. Why is this person commenting on your work? Perhaps, you should stop talking to him completely, right?
Well, if such thoughts are even crossing your mind, please know that you are going to make a mistake. Remember, the offence is always taken and not given.
So, when an individual passes criticism on your work, it is up to you to take it positively or negatively. You can take it, improve your work, and find an honest friend. Or, you can resent the person and lose all opportunities for improvements.
It is important to have honest people in life. They point out the flaws and goods, which offers you an unbiased judgment. People who think you can never be wrong may keep you in an illusion. Be aware of such people!
4. Serves as a Fuel
Others’ opinions on our work make us feel valued. The time they take to tell us what felt right and what went wrong and the fact that our efforts had their attention for even a little while is truly moving. And so, once you open up to constructive criticism, welcome more of it, you will feel even more motivated. You will find yourself striving to get better.
5. Eye for Detail
Constructive criticism is good, but all of it is not applicable to you. When listening to criticism, be a critical listener, and pick up all the minute details. Know that the person may or may not have the idea about the work.
So, instead of judging them or becoming sour, filter their criticism. Train your mind to pick up the points that are truly correct. Use these points to identify where you made a mistake and correct it. As a result, you can use the feedback to your advantage!
6. Friend or Foe?
It is true, but sometimes people will criticise you to only lower your esteem and harm you. Such type of criticism is destructive and toxic.
However, when you embrace criticism, you can identify who is your friend and who is not. Foe and enemies will always provide destructive criticism. They would direct their wordings at your character and personality. It would never help you improve things.
Meanwhile, friends would have always provided feedback based on honesty but in a way that benefits you. Listening to your mistakes hurts, though these friends help you build up.
7. Dealing With Your Inner Perfectionist
Perhaps, the greatest benefit of embracing constructive criticism is that it allows the person to snap out of self-assumed illusions. The unreal perfect picture that we create of ourselves in our minds. It helps us stay closer to reality and stay humble.
The thing is, at times, we do mess up. And we have to accept the fact. If we couldn’t maintain the quality, if we couldn’t keep track of time, and report timely, we have to admit it and accept it. When evaluating ourselves, we can become a bit lenient and ignore our flaws. But constructive criticism brings these faults and flaws to the limelight, helping us address them and improve them.
8. Standing up for Yourself
Opinion teaches you yet another important lesson. No one but you will stand up for yourself in the end.
You know, solving your issues is your very own responsibility and nobody else’s. All they can do is suggest you or point out your flaws. For example, if we take a materialistic example, your co-worker can call out on your speed, blame you for making everyone lag behind. Little would they know, it’s not an intentional act but a technical issue. Perhaps, in your router whilst working from home. Even if you explain, they wouldn’t get until you practically demonstrate the change by upgrading yourself to a high-speed internet router.
Final Words
Indeed, constructive criticism can be quite beneficial. However, the extent of these benefits truly depends on how you perceive things too. Listening and correcting mistakes identified by a close friend is much better than the ones done through clients or others. Let’s all improve together!
