Being Critical VS Being Overly Critical

[sensei8]

You may not be the Chief Instructor or the Sensei or a black belt, BUT irregardless, you're Sempai (Senior) to someone.

There is a fine line that must never be crossed with our reports: Students and instructors. On one side of this line sits our criticism, and on the other side sits our over criticism; it's a very delicate balance for sure.

Our evaluations of our reports must be critical without being overly critical because former is meant to nourish while the latter is meant to, and will, destroy the betterment. Whether the effects of either will be felt/seen immediately or in time will depend on how the criticism was delivered and/or received.

Is your criticism designed to attack the problem or the report? I better understand and know before being critical.

As Kaicho, I'm always evaluating either the student body or those who aren't part of the student body; both receive it whether they ask for it or not. Therefore, I must set the tone in a very positive light in both actions and inaction's.

Why? Because I don't know everything! I better remember that there was a time that I wasn't as knowledgeable/experienced at "that", whatever "that" might be, as I am now. Even then, I'm still learning about everything in and out of the MA.

I'm not perfect and I make mistakes from time to time. I'm not all that and a bag of chip and before I offer my 2-cents of critical evaluation, I had better remember that I don't walk on water and I put my pants on one leg at a time. Humble myself!!

There's constructive criticism and there's destructive criticism. Which one will help your reports?

My job is to teach without being overly critical!!

Be accountable!!

edits: sometimes I just can't spell

Edited March 17, 2013 by sensei8

[sensei8]

Reports:

This means those, students and non-students, who report directly to you.

Students report up the chain. Student to Kohai then to Assistant Sensei then to Sensei then to the Chief Instructor.

Non-students, Hombu employees. They report to their immediate manager then to the Managing Supervisor then to the Assistant Director then to the Director then to Kancho then to Kaicho.

Hopefully this will lend itself properly so that this topic can begin.

If not, way to go Bob!!

[lowereastside]

I try to nurture my students - my criticism is for the most part constructive. My students are all adults - so I don't hit them over the head with insults - and for the most part it works. What I look for is the progression of the students - so far its working.

[Lupin1]

I try my best to provide less criticism and more feedback. Criticism is more negative-- it's focused on what people are doing wrong. Feedback is more positive and future oriented-- focused more on what people can do to improve. Feedback acknowledges what's going right and provides praise in addition to giving specific advice on what can be changed. It's keeping in mind the three questions of performance assessment-- "where are we now?", "where are we going (eventually)?" and "where to next?". It's providing the necessary support for students (or employees) to close the gap between the "where are we now" and the "where to next" to eventually get to that "where are we going".

So yeah-- I focus on keeping all feedback positive and goal oriented-- share the goals with people: "this is where we're going with this and here's something you can work on to help us get there". Then give people enough time and support to make the change before giving the next small goal.

I think as long as feedback is being kept positive and goal oriented, there's not much chance of becoming too critical in it.

That's not to say criticism doesn't have a place when someone is, say, purposely not following the rules or not trying and is being unresponsive to your feedback. I see criticism as something that's reserved more for behavior or attitude correction whereas feedback is more helpful for performance correction. They both have their place, but criticism should be a rare necessity and still needs to be delivered properly.

[sensei8]

Attack the problem TOGETHER and never attack the person because to do so, starts the downward spiral that there is no return from.