I’m attempting a pretty big project. I’m starting an online magazine about the creative process of a church service. I’m meeting with many advisors. I want to launch this thing the right way. In those meetings, I’m dealing with a bunch of criticism.
Be aware, I have a creative temperament. I feel threatened very easily. In many of these meetings people are shooting down my precious, baby ideas. It can be painful. But there is a way to deal appropriately with criticism. These are five things I’ve learned (and am learning) on dealing with criticism.
- Don’t be threatened. If they are a caring critic, they aren’t trying to shoot down your ideas. They just want to offer advice.
- Let every criticism sit in a holding tank. Once you receive a criticism, don’t act immediately. Think about it. Write it down. Put it in a holding tank and decide whether or not it’s a good idea. Sometimes the criticisms are good. Sometimes they aren’t. But when you avoid the feeling of urgency, it helps you keep from feeling threatened by criticism.
- Consider it. If you don’t want to do it…don’t do it. You will receive many criticisms. Some of them will even be conflicting. Ultimately, you call the shots. Get rid of that people pleasing persona that creatives so easily embrace.
- Let it make you better. If you keep your ears open, you may find recurring themes in the criticism you receive. Keep your antennae tuned to repetition. If more than one person criticizes a certain thing, that might indicate a weakness in your creativity. Learn from that.
- Remove your ego. It’s ultimately all about making your creativity better. They probably aren’t criticizing you (even though it feels like they are). Remove your ego from the equation.
Do you frequently deal with criticism? What are some responses you’ve developed to deal with criticism appropriately?
I’m the creative director in our church’s student ministry and I get along great with our youth pastor and we both have creative minds so it’s fun to bounce and grow ideas with each other, but obviously we butt heads about creative things at times and ultimately he calls the shots. How would you go about this conflict keeping your “boss” happy, but at the same time not compromising your creativity as the director?
well it ultimately comes down to supporting him no matter what. the more you support him…the more he’ll support your ideas…it’s all about a relationship. and occasionally he’ll override you…but…time is the key 🙂
I’m the creative director in our church’s student ministry and I get along great with our youth pastor and we both have creative minds so it’s fun to bounce and grow ideas with each other, but obviously we butt heads about creative things at times and ultimately he calls the shots. How would you go about this conflict keeping your “boss” happy, but at the same time not compromising your creativity as the director?
well it ultimately comes down to supporting him no matter what. the more you support him…the more he’ll support your ideas…it’s all about a relationship. and occasionally he’ll override you…but…time is the key 🙂