John Adair's 100 Greatest Ideas for Effective Leadership

Idea 90: Seven ways to receive criticism

As a leader you don't only give constructive criticism, sometimes you have to receive it. When receiving constructive criticism you should:

• Remain quiet and listen.
• Not find fault with the criticizing person.
• Not try to manipulate the appraiser by an emotional response, such as despair.
• Not try to change the subject.
• Not caricature or belittle the complaint.
• Not ascribe an ulterior motive to the criticizer.
• Give the impression that you understand the point.

In the face of any kind of criticism, you should be open to it and not instinctively ignore, deny or deflect it. Whether or not you accept all or part of it is a secondary issue.

When criticized, do I always try to grasp the point in its fullness ...