Home Pastors Articles for Pastors 7 Ways to Offer Criticism That Will Actually Be Heard

7 Ways to Offer Criticism That Will Actually Be Heard

2. Be specific.

If you are going to criticize, at least make sure the recipient knows exactly what you are talking about.

Guessing almost always leads to misunderstandings. Don’t hint at your problem or cover it over with ambiguities.

3. Offer suggestions for improvement.

If you are thinking there is a better way, share it.

If you haven’t thought of how to improve the area of your criticism, spend some time thinking about it before you criticize. When you think, do so from the perspective of the organization’s vision and the individual vision of the leader. It’s going to be hard for a leader to accept criticism that doesn’t mesh with the vision he or she feels called to achieve.

4. Choose words carefully.

Kindness goes a long way. If the person you are offering criticism to feels you don’t even like them or support them, they are not likely to hear what you have to say.

Be nice. That’s a good standard anytime, but it becomes a strategic move when offering criticism.

Also, don’t criticize people or make the criticism personal. Criticism will almost always be rejected if the person receiving it feels they (or the team they lead) are being attacked. Talk less about the who and more about the what.