| You Want to Give Constructive Criticism, Don't You? |
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| Written by David Versilles |
| Wednesday, 05 May 2010 16:15 |
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As a leader, it is critical that you have excellent communication skills, this will help you avoid mistakes where the sole reason is based on bad communication skills. One of the things you must learn is how to give your staff constructive criticism, as destructive one can severely hampers your team's morale! Constructive criticism, when given correctly can have the positive effect of a boost in productivity as well as output, and on the other hand negative one will do nothing for your workforce, expect to strut your ego perhaps. In this article we will examine the components of constructive criticism and how you too can use them in your workplace. Downplay - The art of downplaying your harsh comments will be handy because it does not put the other party on defensive mode right away. Start by giving a nice and positive compliment, your criticism should only come somewhere in the middle while ending on a more positive note to your subordinate. For psychological reason, it would appear less harsh due to them and they will normally take it better that way. Another thing to make sure is that you do not take things to a personal level, always stay true to the matter at hand only. Know when to be direct - Depending on the situation, you might need to stop beating around the bush and approach your staff directly, especially in a situation where the reputation and good standards of your company are involved. Knowing when to be direct can make sure that you get your views across as intended just be sure that you also offer them a solution and not leave it for them to figure it out, as most of them would not be able to. You also want to strive to understand why they did what they did and help correct their mistakes, instead of just punishing them. You Do Not Have to Repeat - Often we're tempted to raise the same issue over and over again in a short period of time, not only it will not help the person, it does not help you too. Remember that your goal is to get positive results out of a criticism, therefore you have to give them enough time to implement the change before you can reevaluate them again. Encouraging your staff instead of putting them down is the best way to go about it, there is simply nothing to gain from repeating over and over again in a short time. Do It In Private - If your message might be embarrassing for your staff, then you should do it privately. If you think about it, doing it in public can not only embarrass them, it can negatively impact the productivity as well as the loyalty of your staff. Granted that they needed the criticism, but doing so privately can garner more respect and more positive outcome from them. Finally, make sure you're not only giving criticism but offering them a solution too! This way you do not run the mistake of having your thoughts misinformed and you will likely get better results from them that way. About the Author: Transform your home garden into a playground for your kids! Find shopping information, buying reviews and the best deals for your various children outdoor furniture and kids rocking chair needs! |