How to Take Criticism/Feedback by Jyssica Schwartz
Here’s the thing. Feedback and constructive criticism are vital to improving. No one is perfect and we can all stand to learn more and do better. It’s not a comment on your ability, criticism is simply finding something you can improve and make better.
Constructive criticism, especially, is defined as “often containing helpful and specific suggestions for positive change, constructive criticism is highly focused on a particular issue or set of issues, as opposed to providing general feedback on the item or organization as a whole.”
Constructive criticism is not mean or rude or malicious. It is not something people give you to make you feel bad about yourself or try to tear you down.
Feedback and constructive criticism are tools to help you continue to grow and improve.
And being able to take feedback in the manner in which it is given is a very important skill.
Michael Sauers is currently the Director of Technology for Do Space in Omaha, NE. Michael has been training librarians in technology for the past twenty years and has also been a public library trustee, a bookstore manager for a library friends group, a reference librarian, serials cataloger, technology consultant, and bookseller since earning his MLS in 1995 from the University at Albany’s School of Information Science and Policy. Michael has also written dozens of articles for various journals and magazines and his fourteenth book, Emerging Technologies: A Primer for Librarians (w/ Jennifer Koerber) was published in May 2015 and more books are on the way. In his spare time he blogs at travelinlibrarian.info, runs The Collector’s Guide to Dean Koontz Web site, takes many, many photos, and typically reads more than 100 books a year.
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