Artifact Summary 9 – Discussion Post: The Role of Criticism
The artifact presented for this program outcome is a proposal written for course OL 654 – Strategy and Innovation. The program outcome my presented work represents is outcome number 9 “Activate self-directed strategies for continued personal and professional learning.” (Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, 2018). One of the course objectives this presentation addressed was “Integrate creative thinking strategies in a system or an organization to build and/or foster its capacity to innovate, change, and develop.” (Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, 2018). The artifact presented, a discussion post about The Role of Criticism, was a discussion about how criticism affects us personally in our lives or at the workplace.
Dealing with criticism is difficult for so many people. Often it seems as though the first inclination people have is to be critical when given the opportunity for feedback. Perhaps they are looking to explain what it is that you could have done better. As a leader, it is important to distinguish between hostile criticism and constructive criticism. The discussion and reading about criticism in this course helped me to better understand how to accept feedback from others. There are always opportunities to practice a proper response to feedback. Alternatively, it is important to be aware of passing judgment or being too critical to others when giving feedback. Lead by example is a good mantra in this situation.
The artifact is presented after the summary references.
References
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. (2018, July). 2018-2019 SGPP catalog & student handbook, Organizational Leadership, M.A. Retrieved from http://catalog.smumn.edu/index.php
Criticism is part of much of what I do in my job. I work in strategy for marketing and sales. My job is to look outside the box and be creative with business strategies for sales and marketing. The creative process through which I work is constantly subjected to criticism from others. I am not sure people know how to accept anything new or different, like a marketing campaign idea, without looking for faults. That said, part of the creative process for marketing involves discovering ways to provoke people or processes. Much like McNiff (1998) describes the ability to let thoughts flow freely without listening too much to the inner-critic, I tend to let my mind wander when coming up with the copy for a new brochure or even a simple email message. I find myself asking the “what if” question to open my imagination before my inner-critic overpowers the thought (van Oech, 1998). That said, I can often go too far in one direction and request a critique of my work in progress from a co-worker I trust. It is important to seek someone with whom you can feel vulnerable and someone you know will tell it like it is. I would rather have one person be critical versus several people.
There are many assumptions regarding criticism. Many people may think someone who is critical is trying to hurt their feelings when in reality criticism can help expand your perspective. Also, people are less apt to handle criticism well if they are comfortable with what they already know and are averse to change (McNiff, 1998). As a leader, it is important to recognize the sensitivity some may have around criticism. There are subtle, yet effective ways to be critical of people who are afraid of change. Being critical is an art that many people do not succeed in doing very well. Taking criticism seems to be even more difficult because it is often emotionally-charged. I have learned to expect criticism in my role and it has made me better at my job when interpreted correctly. We could all benefit by preparing for criticism when coming into any situation where you are exposing yourself. Soaking in the meaning behind a critique will help you to grow. It has certainly helped me.
References
McNiff, S. (1998). Criticism. In Trust the process: An artist’s guide to letting go (pp. 193-203). Boston, MA: Shambala Publications.
von Oech, R. (1998). A whack on the side of the head. New York, NY: Warner Books.
Laura's Leadership Portfolio 