Q&A for How to Know the Difference Between Constructive and Non Constructive Criticism

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How can I give constructive criticism without offending the person?

Lily Zheng, MA
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant
Lily Zheng is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant and Executive Coach who works with organizations around the world to build more inclusive and innovative workplaces for all. Lily is the author of Gender Ambiguity in the Workplace: Transgender and Gender-Diverse Discrimination (2018) and The Ethical Sellout: Maintaining Your Integrity in the Age of Compromise (2019). Lily earned her MA in Sociology from Stanford University.

Lily Zheng, MA

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant

Expert Answer

Communicate clearly about what was wrong, but without making judgments about the person's character or motives. To avoid seeming vindictive, frame your feedback in terms of a shared goal (client happiness, team success, product quality, etc.).

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Question

When is the best time to tell someone at work you disagree with them?

Lily Zheng, MA
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant
Lily Zheng is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant and Executive Coach who works with organizations around the world to build more inclusive and innovative workplaces for all. Lily is the author of Gender Ambiguity in the Workplace: Transgender and Gender-Diverse Discrimination (2018) and The Ethical Sellout: Maintaining Your Integrity in the Age of Compromise (2019). Lily earned her MA in Sociology from Stanford University.

Lily Zheng, MA

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant

Expert Answer

Try to find (or set up) a moment when they will be expecting feedback. Feedback Friday’s, or 1-on-1s, for example, are occasions where people will be more prepared to hear that something they did, said, or assumed was wrong.

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How can I give my boss constructive feedback?

Lily Zheng, MA
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant
Lily Zheng is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant and Executive Coach who works with organizations around the world to build more inclusive and innovative workplaces for all. Lily is the author of Gender Ambiguity in the Workplace: Transgender and Gender-Diverse Discrimination (2018) and The Ethical Sellout: Maintaining Your Integrity in the Age of Compromise (2019). Lily earned her MA in Sociology from Stanford University.

Lily Zheng, MA

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant

Expert Answer

You won’t be able to tell every boss that they’re wrong, and even a boss that is normally accepting of this kind of feedback may not be open to it at every point in time. With that in mind, understand your boss’s personality and work priorities. If they care deeply about impressing their own boss, for example, it may be unwise to levy an unexpected criticism when the two are having a conversation in the hallway. Wait for a private moment when they'll be expecting feedback.

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Is it true that there is always an element of truth in any criticism?

Community Answer

Not all the time. Some people will project their own insecurities onto others disguised as criticism.

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Would being told in interview feedback that "you can talk the talk but I don't think you can walk the walk" be considered constructive?

Community Answer

Not particularly, unless the person explained to you why they think that and what exactly is missing that makes you unable to "walk the walk."

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What does it mean by vague criticism?

Community Answer

Vague criticism is talking about a problem without giving specific details. It is hard to fix a problem without knowing the details.

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