How to Give and Take Criticism
Consider reading in full this excellent essay by Scott Berkun, portions of which I have highlighted.
"Good feedback is rare. It can take a long time to find people who know how to provide useful criticism, instead of simply telling you all the things they think are “wrong” with you or whatever you've made.…
There are four fundamental assumptions bad critics make:
1. There is one universal and objective measure of how good and bad anything is...
2. That the critic is in sole possession of the skill for making these measurements...
3. Anyone that doesn’t possess this skill (including the creator of the work) is an idiot and should be ridiculed...
4. That valid criticisms can and should always be resolved….
How to give critical feedback
Before you speak, know the goals: What problem is the work trying to solve? What are the goals? If you don’t know the intention of the work it’s very difficult to offer careful evaluation and judgment….
Good and bad, is not the same as what you like or don’t like…
Talk as much about what it is, as what it isn’t...
Receiving critical feedback
It’s much harder to receive criticism than to give it…most people…tend to avoid it or ignore it. Nothing can be worse: feedback is essential…, but to master the skills of milking it for all it’s worth:
Shut up. Just shut up and listen....
Ask clarifying questions…
Refer back to the goals…
Ask for what changes you can make that will satisfy the criticism…
Ground Rules
Take control of your feedback process...
Pick your partners...
Strive to hear it all, informally and early..."
