Criticism is defined as the act of giving your opinion or judgment about the good or bad qualities of something or someone. Constructive criticism focuses on providing constructive feedback, supported by specific examples, to help you improve in areas of one’s life.
Constructive criticism cuts across all aspects of our lives; which includes relationship, marriage, work and life in totality. In a relationship and marriage, criticisms are inevitable. At every point, a partner or both partners will have complaints about each other that need to be addressed.
In relationships when the parties purport to grow together, are to address issues well and one of the best ways to do that is through creative criticisms. That’s one of the best ways that couples can and should be able to address their problems and move. Whoever does the criticism should do it with the aim of making the relationship a better one afterwards.
Constructive criticism should be offered in a friendly manner with good intentions. This is a way of giving valuable feedback to a person that is very specific. This helps a person to focus on improving on a particular aspect of his/her life
For one to make the criticisms very effective without offending or hurting the person being criticized, one must first, focus on the person’s positive aspects. You can start off with some motivating and encouraging comments. You then move to what they find difficult to do or are lacking in any particular area, then provide the person with solutions to improve their game at areas where they lack essential skills.
Remember that, constructive criticism is not harshly criticizing the person for the work that they have not done, but telling them about how they can improve more. When you say, ‘I suggest’, you are telling the person about your point of view and how their work can be improved on.
This is very necessary during criticism. Always be very specific on what you want the person to improve on. Always make sure the timing is right, timing and mood play a very important role in communication.
Never give a person feedback at a time when they aren’t in the right state of mind or to hear unpleasant news. Also, make sure you focus on the current events only. Don’t drag past news or projects into your feedback if it isn’t of any value or relevance to the situation or topic at hand.
Certainly, patience and mutual tolerance should be exercised to the highest degree possible if they want to make the relationship work. Not every imperfection or shortcoming needs to be vocalized. However, there are legitimate circumstances in which the best course of action for the relationship is to convey a grievance regarding some negative behaviour or other issues.
Everyone must learn to constructively criticize if the need be to be able to attain great heights and growths in our lives. We must all also be willing to be criticized. It is one of the best ways that one can learn and improve on one’s self.
May the Lord help us to take criticisms and also to criticize our loved ones with the right attitude and in the right way.
Written by: Benjamin Freshhope Mensah and Miriam
