by Wenbin Nah

Created on: August 22, 2008

Giving and receiving criticism is actually quite easy. Giving criticism is just saying what you think, while the receiving criticism is keeping quite while being chewed out.

Giving and receiving criticism is easy, so you would think...

To start off, let us look at some tips on how we can give more effective Criticism

1) Criticize ASAP

Criticism, like praise, is more effective the closer it is to the event. The earlier the criticism is delivered, the more effective it will be in influencing behavior.

However, when employing this tactic, it is imperative to remember to separate emotions from your criticism and do offer objective criticism to the other person.

Also, do remember to avoid criticism in front of other people as it wounds a person's precious pride.

2) Be Specific

When you are specific, you will become more objective and less emotional. Words become more quantifiable and less prone to generalizations that could occur in the heat of the moment.

3) Be Certain of the Facts

When you criticize somebody and make accusations, it is imperative that you are sure of what you are talking about. There might be situations where you may not be aware of. Thus, you should allow the other person the opportunity to explain his or herself.

When the person is trying to explain the situation, your body language should also reflect that you are listening and are trying to empathize/understand the other person's situation.

4) Be Positive in Your Criticism

Even though you must criticize, do maintain a positive side of the entire situation. Do try to include or suggest ways on how the other person can improve instead of just listing down the other person's bad points. In addition, try to maintain positive body language to balance out the negatively of the message.

The more positively you handle the situation, the better the other person will feel about it and hence, the better your chances of success for influencing the other person's behavior.

When receiving criticism, do remember that if a person criticizes you, he or she cares enough to talk to you about your faults, so you should try to control your negative reactions and be more open about the situation.

If you are able to give effective criticism and receive criticism with an open mind, you will be well on your way to better interpersonal relations with your friends and family.

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