Constructive Criticism

The word “criticism” often has a negative association. Sometimes people use this word to describe an unfair complaint or personal attack. However, the real meaning of the word much more positive. When authentic criticism happens, it means that someone is taking the time to give serious attention to your work. Even better than criticism is constructive criticism. This term refers to feedback that has the potential to make a project stronger. Constructive criticism should identify what is going right in a project as well as those areas where the project can be improved.  Remember: even well-intentioned criticism can hurt people’s feelings, so follow these suggestions to make sure that the group stays on a positive path.

Tips for constructive criticism:

• structure your feedback in a GLOW-GROW-GLOW pattern. Begin your message with a sincere, positive observation. This is a GLOW statement. Then, identify an area that would benefit from more effort or attention. This is a GROW statement. To make sure that you end on a positive note, finish with one more GLOW statement.
• stay specific in your feedback. Even if you can’t provide a detailed solution, be sure to give direct examples of where you think the work is problematic or could be improved. There are few things that are more frustrating than someone who complains about a situation without telling you why they’re dissatisfied.
• be sincere in your feedback. Make sure you mean what you say. If the GLOW statement is superficial or sounds phony, you and your criticism will lose all credibility. If the GROW statement is superficial or sounds phony, team members will think that you didn’t put in enough effort.
• ask questions and make suggestions. Be clear that you are interested in what the other person has created and that you respect the effort that they put in. If you aren’t sure why something was done the way it was, ask them to clarify what their intention was. If you think you see a way to fix it, share that. Just be careful not to assume that your way is the only way. If another group member has taken on responsibility for a part of a project, that is their work and they are entitled to do it to the best of their ability.

Finally, remember that your opinion is just that: your opinion. If other group members don’t agree with your criticism, it could be that it is not valid. As long as you keep the conversation respectful, these kinds of discussions can lead to trust and progress, even when everyone doesn’t agree on every detail.