Maybe there was some truth in what he said, no matter how painful it was to hear. I could recall being a little put off by simple suggestions on different occasions in the past. I realized there were things that we both could have, and should have, done differently. To begin with, it s important to realize that criticism is a normal part of everyday work, however it s only advantageous when it is constructive. Otherwise, it can be damaging to professional relationships and counterproductive.
Constructive criticism is meant to be useful information that helps something to improve.
That doesn t mean that an idea, a project or even a person is bad to begin with. It means that there are ways to be even better. After all, none of us is perfect. However, when criticism is given without the intent to help, or in a way that seems domineering, then it harms the working relationship and hinders both productivity and creativity. Conversely, if the person receiving the criticism isn t open to suggestions, then the information offered is useless.