How to Provide Constructive Criticism

Constructive criticism is well received when offered thoughtfully and carefully.

One of the hardest things to do, both in the workplace and in your personal life, is to criticize someone in a constructive and non-threatening way. When the time comes to do so, you want to follow a specific procedure, leaving nothing to chance. This ensures you will properly deliver the bad news but also increase the likelihood that your words will be well received and produce behavioral change.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Combine healthy doses of positive as well as negative feedback. If you're dealing with a subordinate or colleague, remember that everyone has positive qualities and strengths you can emphasize to soften the criticism.

2. Stay specific and on task. Discuss the person's actions, pointing out what he can do to improve. Don't permit the conversation to wander in other directions and avoid bringing up unrelated issues from the past. Focus on the subject at hand and convey the proper message.

3. Stay calm and cool when criticizing someone. Avoid pointing out personal character traits and don't let the conversation degenerate. Humiliation will get you nowhere and will reflect negatively on you and your reputation. Keep your emotions in check and neutral.

4. Do your homework and have any facts you might need close at hand. Nothing is worse than a supervisor who speaks in generalities without readily-available examples, facts or dates. Bring this arsenal with you, because you could be challenged. Make sure that your facts are impossible to dispute. If a paper trail has been kept on an employee, bring that with you or have the details memorized.

5. List specific opportunities for improvement. Unless you're dealing with an employee with a checkered history, you will want to deliver not only criticism but real ideas the person can use to improve performance. Now might be the time to provide the employee with training, staff development or mentoring.

6. Provide the employee with time to respond to your criticism. She might want to explain or clarify. Give her an opportunity to speak and be a good listener. Be sure to keep the conversation non-personal and businesslike.

7. Provide the employee with the chance to respond in writing, if you are delivering a written evaluation. If your company evaluations don't permit written responses, suggest that they consider it because it exhibits fairness.

8. Remember that a little empathy goes a long way. Put yourself in the shoes of the person you're about to criticize. Remember that he will feel vulnerable or under attack. Reminding yourself what that feels like will help you deliver criticism in a sensitive way.

Tips & Warnings

• Maintain eye contact when delivering constructive criticism. It shows that you're sincere and interested.

• Choose a private place to criticize an employee. Nothing is worse than a public flogging.

References

• BankersOnline: 10 Tips for Delivering (Constructive) Criticism