Do You Crumble Easily?

Ouch! It can really hurt when someone finds fault with you or your performance, be it a friend saying your new hair colour doesn’t suit you or your supervisor sending your project back for reworking. But instead of dissolving into tears, anger or feelings of inadequacy, remember criticism is not necessarily an attack on you. In fact, experts say constructive criticism can be a pathway to growth and improvement.

7 Ways To Bend, Not Break

Instead of crumbling under criticism, experts share how to deal with negative feedback in a productive manner.

1 Respond calmly

Use a simple response to acknowledge you have heard their opinion. Try, “Thank you for the feedback. I’ll take that on board”, or “Okay, I’ll consider that”. If you have an emotional, heart-thumping reaction to what’s been said, your brain has gone into “fight or flight” mode. Don’t respond while you’re in this primed state. “Take a few minutes out, feel your feet on the ground, and breathe slowly and deeply until you feel more calm,” says wellness coach Trish Everett. “When you breathe in a relaxed way, your heart rate and stress response will come down so you can re-engage your rational brain before you respond.”

2 Don’t take it personally