The Art of Taking Criticism

In this Chronicle of Higher Education article, David Perlmutter (University of Iowa) bemoans the fact that candidates who are turned down for jobs rarely get candid feedback on where they fell short. Fear of hurting people’s self-esteem and getting into legal difficulty results in many professionals being sheltered from frank opinions on their performance. “We are facing a criticism crisis,” says Perlmutter. “Never have so many needed good critiques and gotten so few.” 

When criticism is given, there’s another problem: people’s resistance to accepting and putting it to good use. Here are Perlmutter’s suggestions:

• Accept that pointed criticism is good for you. The word critique is derived from the Greek kritikos, meaning the ability to make a judgment. Getting honest and specific judgments on our work can be very helpful to growth and development.

• Learn to weigh, compare, and contrast criticism. “Avoid equally those who pour on negativity as well as those who always tell you everything you write is wonderful,” says Perlmutter. Look for colleagues who have the time to look carefully at your work and are honest, specific, and helpful with their comments. And use different people for different types of critique: one person might be good at catching typos, another at observing teaching, another at career counseling.

• Reward helpful criticism. Don’t be defensive; graciously thank those who give thoughtful critiques and offer to return the favor.

• Beware of selectivity bias. “We have abundant powers for ignoring, forgetting, or misinterpreting information that may seem to contradict our view of reality,” says Perlmutter. Avoid the common tendency to shop for data that confirms our own world view by getting advice from people in several different roles, assuring them that we can handle criticism, and pressing them for detailed, candid feedback. 

• Start early. Establish a reputation as someone who “takes criticism well,” says Perlmutter. “Scout out and form mentor-protégé relationships with respected elders and supportive friendships with positive, achieving peers. All the while you can make clear – in attitude and deed – that you really appreciate honest, lucid, and insightful advice.” 

• Give as well as get. One of the best ways to learn about effective critiques is to practice the art of being a good critic yourself. Sitting in on job interviews and discussing them afterward is a great starting point. 

“In Search of a Good Critique” by David Perlmutter in The Chronicle of Higher Education, Feb. 8, 2013 (Vol. LIX, #22, p. A23-24), 

http://chronicle.com/article/In-Search-of-a-Good-Critique/136937/ 

From the Marshall Memo #472