We all need constructive criticism - whether for the products we sell, business growth, personal growth, and well...life in general, really. Constructive criticisms are a mirror that reflects our strengths and areas for improvement.
Giving Feedback That Actually Helps
Let's imagine you've purchased a new cooking gadget online and after using it a few times, you've decided to leave a public review on the website. Here are some dos and don’ts for leaving product feedback on a public space:
Do’s
1. Decide What You Want To Change
Ask yourself what you're hoping to change by voicing your opinion. If your aim is to genuinely help someone, you're on the right path. You want to provide helpful feedback to both the manufacturer and potential buyers. You want to recommend the product to help people's lives better, or you want the manufacturer to improve the area you think is bad.
Example: Before writing your review, think to yourself, "I want to help the manufacturer improve this product, and guide future buyers in making an informed decision."
2. Optimal Timing and Place
Choose the right platform and time to leave your review. Example: Decide to leave your review on the official website where you purchased the gadget, and choose a moment when you can thoughtfully articulate your feedback.
3. Be Constructive: Your feedback should be helpful and offer suggestions for improvement, not just a list of complaints.
4. Be Specific: The more detailed your feedback, the more helpful it will be. Explain exactly what you liked or didn’t like about the product.
5. Be Honest: Provide an honest assessment of the product, both positive and negative aspects.
6. Be Respectful: Make sure your feedback is respectful and professional, even if you didn’t like the product.
7. Consider Your Timing: If the product is newly launched, the manufacturer may still be ironing out some kinks. Also, leaving feedback during a company’s busiest times might not be the best idea.
8. Use Proper Language: Use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. This makes your feedback more credible and easier to understand.
9. Share Your Experience: Explain how you used the product and in what context.
10. Speak From Your Own Perspective
The focus should be on what you've observed or experienced, avoiding blaming language. Use phrases like "I noticed that..." or "From my viewpoint..." to make your comments more relatable. Share your personal experience with the product.
11. Be Balanced: If there are positive aspects of the product, mention those as well.
12. Share the Impact
Sometimes it's beneficial to explain how the person's actions impact you or the team. Explain how the product's features affected your experience.
13. Follow the Guidelines: Make sure your review adheres to the platform’s guidelines and policies.
14. Be Concise: Be as concise as possible while still providing detailed feedback.
15. Rate Fairly: Be fair in your rating of the product. Don’t give a 1-star rating just because you had a minor issue.
16. Acknowledge Customer Service: If the company resolves your issue, acknowledge that in your feedback.
17. Be Aware Who's Going To View: Remember that your feedback will be read by other customers and the company as well as anyone who stumbles upon the page.
18. Offer a Path Forward
Suggest actionable steps for improvement. Rather than just pointing out what went wrong, guide them towards a solution. Suggest ways the product could be improved.
19. Include Photos or Videos: If possible, include photos or videos that support your feedback.
20. Disclose Any Biases: If you received the product for free or at a discount in exchange for your review, disclose that information.
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21. Show Appreciation
Make sure to acknowledge the person’s strengths and accomplishments, not just the areas that need improvement.
Acknowledge the positive aspects of the product. Example: "I really liked the stylish design of the baseline, it made it much more comfortable to hold for an extended period of time."
22. Invite Dialogue
Make it a two-way conversation. Ask how they feel about your observations and if they have any thoughts on how to improve. Open dialogue makes the other person feel respected and included.
Encourage a response from the manufacturer or other buyers.
23. Follow-Up
After some time has passed, make an effort to revisit the issue to see how things have progressed. This shows you're committed to their improvement and opens the door for more feedback later on.
Check back to see if your feedback received a response or if the manufacturer made any updates. Example: A month after leaving your review, check the website to see if there are any responses or updates related to your feedback.
24. Be Human
A little empathy and kindness make the feedback process much more pleasant for everyone. Smile, show warmth, and assure them that nobody is perfect—we're all on a journey of improvement!
Show empathy and understanding towards the manufacturer. Example: "I appreciate the effort that went into creating this device."
Don’ts
25. Don’t Be Rude or Offensive
Even if you had a negative experience, there’s no need to be rude or offensive in your feedback. The words you use can significantly influence how your feedback is received. Be thoughtful and avoid using loaded or overly negative terms.
Use friendly and constructive language. Example: "While I appreciate the innovative design, I think there could be some improvements in the blade sharpness."
26. Don’t Exaggerate: Be truthful about your experience. Don’t exaggerate either the positive or negative aspects of the product.
27. Don’t Post Personal Information: Don’t share any personal information, either yours or anyone else’s.
28. Don’t Post Multiple Times: Posting the same feedback multiple times can be seen as spam.
29. Don’t Use ALL CAPS: It’s considered shouting and is difficult to read.
30. Don’t Engage in Personal Attacks:
It's the actions that need changing, not the person.
Focus on the product's features, not the people behind it. Example: Instead of saying, "The manufacturer did a bad job", say, "The product could be improved in certain areas."
31. Don’t Share False Information: Only share information that you know to be true.
32. Don’t Be Influenced by Others: Make sure your feedback is based on your own experience, not what others have said.
33. Don’t Ignore the Positives: Even if your overall experience was negative, try to highlight any positive aspects as well.
34. Don’t Leave Feedback When Angry: If you’re angry or emotional, take some time to cool off before leaving feedback.
How to Handle Constructive Criticism
Receiving constructive criticism can be just as daunting as giving it, but it’s a valuable opportunity for growth and improvement. Here are dos and don’ts for receiving constructive criticism in a public space:
Do’s
35. Be Open: Be open to receiving feedback, even if it's not positive.
36. Listen Actively
Make a conscious effort to truly listen to the feedback being given. This means not interrupting, and also not mentally rehearsing your defense while the other person is speaking. Example: If a colleague is giving you feedback on a presentation, listen attentively to their observations without interjecting.
37. Acknowledge the Feedback: Even if you don’t agree with the criticism, acknowledge that you’ve heard it and thank the person for their feedback.
38. Respond Professionally: If you choose to respond, do so in a professional and respectful manner.
39. Express Commitment to Improvement
Response: "We are committed to continuously improving our products and services, and your feedback is invaluable in this process. We will certainly address this issue and take the necessary steps to prevent it from happening in the future."
40. Thank the Person
Express gratitude for the feedback, even if it was negative. Thank the person for sharing their perspective with you. It takes courage to give constructive criticism. Example: Even if you don’t agree with everything your sibling said about your behavior, you can still thank them for sharing their thoughts with you.
41. Take Action: If the feedback is valid, take action to address the issues raised.
42. Follow Up
If appropriate, check back with the person who gave you the feedback to let them know how you are addressing the issue. This shows that you took their feedback seriously and are committed to making positive changes. Example: If your boss suggested that you need to be more proactive, you might update them on the steps you’ve taken to improve in this area.
43. Keep a Positive Attitude: Stay positive, even if the feedback is negative.
44. Seek Clarification: If you don’t understand the feedback, ask for clarification.
45. Stay Calm: It’s natural to feel defensive, but try to stay calm and composed.
46. Ask Questions
If something is unclear, ask for clarification. This shows that you are taking the feedback seriously and are committed to understanding and addressing the issue. Example: If your manager suggests that you need to work on your time management, you might ask for specific examples of when this has been a problem
47. Be Objective: Try to see the situation from the other person’s perspective.
48. Reflect on Past Feedback: Consider whether this feedback is similar to the feedback you’ve received in the past.
49. Reflect on the Feedback
Take some time to consider the feedback and assess its validity. Not all criticism is warranted, but be honest with yourself about whether the feedback is fair and useful.
50. Learn from It: Use the feedback as an opportunity to learn and grow.
51. Apologize if Necessary: If the feedback indicates that you made a mistake, apologize sincerely.
52. Decide How To Address Issues
Decide how you will address the issues raised in the feedback. This could involve making changes to your behavior, seeking additional training, or finding ways to manage your time more effectively.
Example: You are selling an exercise training course and one feedback is from an expert, pointing out the lack of demonstrations in one module. Then instead of jumping in to make a quick-fix, you might want to create a plan first, to make sure that the quality of that module is in line with others.
53. Consider the Source
The person giving the feedback can impact its validity. Consider their perspective and motivations. Example: If a competitor offers criticism, consider whether they have any reason to undermine your confidence.
54. Find the Positive
Even if the feedback is tough to hear, try to find the positive in it. It’s an opportunity to grow and improve. Example: If a client wasn’t happy with your service, this is a chance to make improvements that could lead to better client relationships in the future.
Don’ts
55. Don’t Get Defensive
It's natural to feel defensive, but try to resist this impulse. Take a moment to absorb what’s being said before responding. Example: If a friend points out that you’ve been canceling plans frequently, instead of immediately listing reasons, take a moment to consider their perspective.
56. Don’t Ignore the Feedback: Even if you don’t agree with it, take the time to consider whether there is any truth to it.
57. Don’t Respond Immediately: Take some time to process the feedback before responding.
58. Don’t Take It Personally: Try to separate yourself from the product or service you are selling or recommending.
59. Don’t Dismiss the Feedback: Don’t dismiss the feedback just because you don’t agree with it. Say something and show them you're being fair.
60. Don’t Attack the Person Giving Feedback: Focus on the feedback itself, not the person giving it. We all know that people anonymously say something spiteful online. Ignore the tone of their voice. Just reply to explain about the product.
61. Don’t Make Excuses: Own up to any mistake and focus on how you can improve. Just say sorry, and tell them you're determined to fix your mistake. It's not the end of the world!
62. Don’t Dwell on It: Once you’ve processed the feedback and made any necessary changes, move on.
63. Don’t Respond to Every Piece of Feedback: Sometimes it’s better to simply listen and take action rather than responding to every piece of feedback.
64. Don’t Be Overly Critical of Yourself: Constructive criticism is an opportunity to improve, not a reason to be overly critical of yourself.
65. Don’t Cherry-Pick Feedback: Don’t just focus on the positive feedback and ignore the negative.
66. Don’t Argue
Even if you don’t agree with the feedback, arguing is unlikely to be productive. The internet is full of trolls, you can make your point, but if someone keeps coming back argumentative, you can ignore them. Others will know that you're being fair.
67. Don’t Assume Malicious Intent: Most people offer feedback with the best of intentions.
68. Don’t Overreact: Keep your emotions in check and respond in a measured and thoughtful way.
69. Don’t Neglect Positive Feedback: Positive feedback is just as important as negative feedback. Celebrate your successes and consider how you can build on them.
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