Now, we stand in the next chapter of free will. Everyone can do whatever they want, and most things happen because people’s words or actions are deliberately accepted by society. With the growing number of people able to give their opinions or statements without being censored, the level of personal and professional criticism has risen dramatically. Practically, everyone can criticize whomever they want. In most cases, this is a typical approach toward the other person that must not be accepted as something negative but something that may wake up the other person and help them grow. Critics are now an army of people, some well-educated and with mindfulness, others rude, direct, and not so much sense for the emotional state of the other side, which gives their “opinion” on everything happening.
They raise stress levels and may create anxiety and depressive symptoms, but no one is ready to deal with them. In addition, many leaders today are engaged in various activities, so they often suffer from the “work of the critics.” Sometimes, words criticizing a person may be helpful, but in other cases, the impact may be more than negative for the one being an object of the criticism.
In this dynamic and uplifting situation, it is common to see a balanced leader with experience and achievements in several areas lose their temper. With that happening often, leadership becomes one of the most vulnerable roles that must deal daily with the critics as people in the environment in which they operate. There is no panacea against the critics in the world, but learning some techniques may help leaders become more active toward the critics around them and help them deal with this group of people with less stress. Below, you will find several practical principles for dealing with critics.
REMIND YOURSELF THAT CRITICS DO NOT REPRESENT THE ENTIRE POPULATION
The leader is often in front of many populations during a particular period, so they often mislead what a critic says with reality. Critics often talk only from their point of view. Listening to their thoughts and opinions does not mean everyone thinks the same way. Most of the time, people around the leader have opposite ideas to the one expressed by the critic. Understanding that simple truth may help the leader to lower the level of stress created by the words of the critic in front of them and not make them feel as if the world is falling apart just because there is “a fighter for the rights of the people who is not afraid to speak.” After the leader realizes that what the critic says may be correct but is not representative of the opinion of everyone around, they may not be crushed by the thought that the world is here to punish them.
RESPOND TO THE CRITICS PRIVATELY
Now, everyone wanting to be famous is trying to provoke attention in public. Think of everyone who has done something in the last decade. Whether it is a freedom fighter or a person defending nature and the environment, they all talk in public. The worst mistake a leader can make if they are under the attack of a critic is to respond in the same manner and environment – publicly. Done that way, the response only strengthens the flames of anger and provokes a series of unwanted answers. This is destructive. The best way to deal with critics’ acquisition is to listen in public but answer to the person in private. Using this approach, the leader can control the environment and the energy of the reciprocal person’s reaction and manage the situation and the outcomes for good.
LISTEN WITH THE INTENT TO UNDERSTAND INSTEAD OF PROVING THEM RIGHT
Now, let us move to the third practical principle. Every one of us has carried through situations where we do not want to listen to the end but respond immediately to the one talking against us or our efforts. It is human nature to defeat what looks wrong and calm our internal Super EGO. And often, everyone acting like this proves them wrong. Listening without trying to get into the intricate details and investing time to understand them changes not only the direction of the answer but also the weight of the answer. The leader who wants to manage a critic, while this same critic wants to turn situation or words against the leader, must first stop themselves from being tempted to respond and practice the skill of listening carefully and with understanding. Getting all the information without feeling guilty while listening is an excellent starting point for formulating the best answer possible and stopping the critic with less effort and damage in time.
BE KIND TO WHAT THE CRITICS SAY
Being offended by what a critic says, many leaders fail to build the best image they can. Often, the words of a person who criticizes us create emotional disbalance in us, and we start answering without even realizing that that makes us look guilty, without any guilt. Therefore, the greatest weapon against someone trying to offend a leader is not to respond directly, with energy, passion, and intent to crush them, but to turn to that critic with kindness. What a critic says may not be a hundred percent true, but if the leader responds directly to it, this may create the image of someone who uses attack and s to defend themselves. It also gives space for the one who is criticizing the leader for searching for new ways to злепоставя them. Therefore, the best approach for a leader while dealing with annoying critics is to respond kindly to them so that the leader may turn that negative energy extracted from the criticism into a positive response with less stress and more positive outcomes.
IN CONCLUSION:
In the face of a critic, leaders often react in the first viable way we learn – with emotions and willingness to make the other party feel guilty. But what usually comes out from that approach creates more disturbance than balance. By learning how to manage and balance situations where critical action toward them is executed, leaders may be able to build better environments with more positivity and turn most of the negatives into pure positives with less effort, stress, and discomfort.
So hey, you – the leader – Are you ready to fight the critics in your life differently and more positively?
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