Fair Criticism
August 14th, 2007 Posted in Tips and TricksIn case you hadn’t noticed, Americans are now in the “political season” (when are we not?). Shots of criticism fire across the bows on a regular basis. I wonder if we have become numbed to the subject of criticism, unable to give it or take it, shell-shocked by verbal violence in the public square.
In my recent move I have criticized (in rather heated terms) both cable and telephone companies. To be honest, every body has limitations, not that I got very far. I don’t know if I feel better or not, but these are not people I am trying to forge teamwork with. What about deeply investing yourself in people and then comes the inevitable shortcoming? What do you say and how do you say it?
Try How to Criticize People Without Causing Offense. Some of it is frankly manipulative and I wouldn’t recommend it (like praising people for things that may not be true [see this thread from Community Guru Amy])
I was so mad at the phone company, I said - are you just stupid or what? Sigh. Not particularly productive, but I was a crazed man. Check out #2 in this article about tone of voice. The only thing I can add is slow down and lower the pitch of your voice. The more upset you get, the faster and higher you speak.
Criticism and conflict work better if everybody can stay seated. People do get agitated and stand up, and the last thing you want is to escalate. Be clear, concise and cool and everybody stands a better chance of coming out the other end intact.
Dennis
Technorati tags: criticism;conflict management; small business
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