Taking your constructive criticism professionally is important for making a good impression, but you still need to then effectively apply that criticism moving forward. Here’s how to get the most out of constructive criticism:

Be receptive to the ideas presented

The most important element in getting the most out of your constructive criticism is taking it in and treating it with an open mind. Often emotions can run high when receiving criticism, but if you have a natural inclination to take offense or get hurt when receiving criticism, this can impede your ability to learn from it and become the best version of yourself that you can be. Always enter a discussion featuring constructive criticism with an open mind and a willingness to consider any criticism offered constructively.

Take time to process your emotions

When receiving constructive criticism, you may be feeling strong emotions. To apply the advice you receive effectively, it’s important to do so as objectively as possible. If you find that you’re still feeling strong emotions related to criticism you received, it’s too early to deem the advice incorrect or inapplicable.

By taking the time that you need to view the criticism without emotion, you can judge it on its merits alone. This leaves you better positioned to identify which advice is good advice for you and which you don’t think will help you so that you can put the good advice into action.

Consider the source

When applying constructive criticism to your life, it’s important to keep the giver of the advice in mind when assessing it. There are two primary ways the individual giving the critique can influence how you take it. First, if you’re receiving constructive criticism from a supervisor, it’s important to give it extra importance, as failing to follow the note provided can have professional consequences.

The other reason to give added weight to a critique is when you respect the individual giving it. Whether it’s a colleague you respect, a more experienced professional sharing their experience or simply someone you hold in high esteem, when you respect the knowledge of the individual giving the advice, you may be more inclined to follow it.

Seek out other opinions

When dealing with constructive criticism, it can often help to have an additional opinion to help you get the most out of the advice. Speaking with another person whose opinion you respect allows you to see their views on the criticism provided. While there may be times when additional opinions refute your previously received criticisms, often the value of additional opinions is the ability to get further advice on how to best act on the constructive criticism you received.

Apply what you’ve learned

The value of constructive criticism is only as high as you allow it to be by acting on it. Once you have taken the time to view the criticism in a fair light and determined how it is best applied to your life, it’s time to take the theory and turn it into action.

5 things to avoid when receiving constructive criticism

If you are on the receiving end of constructive criticism, don’t throw it away. Insight from a trusted, objective source about your work, management style, or how you’re showing up is priceless.

You want to keep it coming, and that means not reacting in a way that scares the giver off or makes them less willing to give you feedback in the future.

To keep the feedback coming, avoid these 5 reactions:

· Do not react with defensiveness and anger

· Do not attack the person giving the feedback

· Do not interrupt or talk over the person when they are giving the feedback

· Avoid analysing or questioning the person’s assessment initially

· Avoid engaging in a debate or a combative response