HTSS87 - How to handle constructive criticism in sales and life - Scott Sylvan Bell

How to deal with criticism

At some point the world comes after you or at least it feels like it. There are times where you need to have criticism about your work or your skills. If you are struggling to begin with you will take it more personally.  This isn’t about the person who is the jerk or the idiot, its about the person who is really coming to help you.

 

Sometimes the people are right but its their delivery. How they say it and their timing when they say it can be more damaging than the content of the conversation.   Most of the time the criticism of you is out of love and affection sometimes its not to tear you down. You do have to recognize which one you are looking at.  

 

Know your audience

Does the person who is giving you the criticism there they tear you down or build you up?  

It may be tough to see the difference because of time, energy, effort of time committed. You have an idea of a bank account of what you have done.

  

If you asked for criticism you will get it. You can react wrong and this escalates the situation. Your reaction matters just as much as the person you are working with.    

For a company or training the conversation should be structured where the target person gets one good complement and one area where they need improvement  

 

You could ask: 

• Where is one place I excelled?
• Thank you!
• What is 1 area I need improvement the most 
• Thank you!
• If there was a second place I could excel where would it be?
• Thank you!

 

The problem with weaknesses and criticism

It seems that criticism happens at the wrong time for most people. For some reason we can see weakness in others. It’s the pile on effect in most offices and households.   

 

Every once and a while a friend a coach or a mentor shares where you can get better at what you do.   You can be elegant or you can be a jerk when it comes to your reaction.

  

The benefit of the marketing mindset in business is that the right answer is the one that leads to the best outcome.  One of the best ways to look at everything is of a test. “I’m in test mode until noted otherwise” is the pure definition of the marketing mindset.

  

If the person that is giving you criticism about what you are doing is working from love, friendship or a business relationship slow down a moment  

  

1. Thank the person for sharing with you  
2. If you are going to ask for clarification it isn’t about the speed – be curious about what is going on – you don’t have to defend your position they are telling you what they see 
3. Be willing to think through what the person has said (maybe take a note if it cant be dealt with right now) 
4. You will make a judgement valid – invalid – think through your response.  
5. Go back to the drawing board and see what can be changed
6. Make a call - Get more feedback – realize people will give it 
7. Make the changes 

 

There may be a time where you have to come back later and talk about what is going on. Be patient with those who are trying to help you out and share what you can do to improve.  

 

Scott Sylvan Bell

@Scottsbell

#sales #success #podcast #Howtosellshow #Sacramento

This episode was recorded in Sacramento California