criticism Great Tips For Handling CriticismEvery time you try to do something new or different, you are bound to come across some form of criticism. Whether it be family or friends, your blogging network, or your commentors or fellow forum members – it will come.

Hopefully you would have noticed the new theme design I have for this blog. Well a couple of days ago, after it was all uploaded and ready, I decided to ask for some feedback off a couple of forums. Just simple questions like, ‘What do you like about the design?’ What don’t you like?’ etc etc.

I knew this would open up the floodgates for people to tell me exactly what they thought. I knew some of their points would be positive and some negative, but thats ok because you need the negatives to know which areas to work on, right?

That may be easy to say when you have not put yourself in that situation, but anyone who has opened themselves or their projects up for feedback will know that the negative feedback is hard to take. It often feels like whenever says there is something wrong with your project or design that it is a personal attack on you, telling you that you are are incompetent and going to fail.

Now we know thats not how they mean to portray themselves, but it is how we take it.

Here are three things that I have found help me take criticism on board – without taking offense!

1. Realize That They Are Not Emotionally Attached
Your project is like a baby to you. It is part of you and you couldn’t be prouder of it. But you have to remember that it is YOUR baby, not anyone else’s. That means that they do not have the same emotions connected to the project as you do, so when they speak their opinions they are just telling you what they think. They are not having a go at your project or you. You asked for their opinion and they gave it – and probably haven’t thought of your project since. so when reading and taking in their constructive criticism, leave your emotions at the door and try to look at your project through their eyes.

2. The Majority Of People Want You To Succeed
The thing I have found when asking for feedback on a design or project is that everyone seems to be so supportive and helpful, and you can tell that they want you to do well. their feedback usually consists of the sandwich approach to feed back (positive, negative then positive) and they do this because they don’t want to offend you.

I know when I give feedback to others I can usually see potential in any project, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t let them know of things that I think could be approved. I mean if I don’t tell you something that I think will stop your projects success then you have to wonder if I even care if you succeed! So see constructive feedback as a positive, from the view that your reviewers want to see your project become the best it can be!

3. Don’t Listen To The Rest
This one is simple. If you can tell they don’t care about your project and are just trying to act all tough by taking unnecessary stabs at your project – just ignore them. Totally ignore them. Their comments do not deserve the courtesy of a reply and don’t give them the pleasure of a moment in your thoughts. Just offload it and focus on fixing the things that others (who do care) have kindly pointed out.

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