How To Handle Criticism

How To Handle Criticism

Do you find it ugly to fail? Think about it!

Sooner or later, we all encounter criticism in some form. The trick is not to avoid criticism, but to use it to your advantage.

Each week, I meet lots of people trying to get ahead in life, in one way or another. They have tried it all, such as setting objectives, creating an action plan and have invested 100 percent. Yet they fail. Why is that?

I have noticed that many of us, are governed entirely by the fear of criticism. I am talking not only about the criticism from managers, buyers and suppliers, but the criticism that we carry with us every day, throughout our lives.

Where does all this criticism from? Ninety percent of all the criticism is created by ourselves, and when the environment reacts to what we radiate, we receive scathing criticism back. The more afraid we are of being criticized, the more likely it is that we will get criticism in some form.

Often there are two ways to behave when you have this self-critical approach. One is by never doing anything with your life and be invisible in all situations, while the second is to actually be visible and go forward, regardless of the criticism. Whichever method you use, the truth comes out, and you will get scathing criticism, whether you are passive or active.

The solution lies not on the outside, but rather to dissolve all the fear that many go around carrying with them. Where does this fear come from? Our entire society is built on it that it is ugly to fail, and if you do it that once, you are written off forever as being an unworthy.

But if you look at the individuals who really have managed externally, as Henry Ford with the car, and with Edison and the light bulb, they have failed more times than they succeeded. Yet they went down in history as real winners.

Since childhood we have learned that it is ugly to fail. Our parents have learned from their parents to do it right the first time. But have you seen a small child learn to walk all at once, or one who has learned to talk in a day? According to today's standards, they would then be classified as failures to start businesses, become executives or even to be employed.

The key is to learn that it is ok to fail. Companies and individuals agree to hire people who have big plans, and who dares to succeed and fail. Without the power, we would still live in caves and no company would exist.

How do we then, deal with the scathing self-criticism that puts an end to so many people's success and dreams?

Here are four tips to being successful with criticism:

1. Find out what kind of criticism that you are afraid to get from others
2. Find out if you also criticize yourself, year in and year out
3. Learn to ignore the criticism that does not help you to grow (about 99 percent of all criticism)
4. Consider the criticism is justified and convert it into opportunities for you (about 1 percent of all criticism)

Keep in mind that the biggest critic is yourself, and it is only you who can change yourself and develop yourself so that you become a winner to handle criticism.

Good Luck!

Hans Thorn, Success Coach

http://www.personalcoachingonline.com