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