How to give and receive constructive criticism (with examples)

Constructive criticism is a feedback technique that aims to support personal and professional growth by focusing on specific issues as opportunities for improvement rather than as personal attacks. Unlike negative criticism, which can be perceived as judgmental and detrimental, constructive criticism addresses behaviors and situations, encouraging a path forward by highlighting impacts and suggesting potential improvements. The text emphasizes the importance of great leaders who can deliver feedback that helps individuals grow, contrasting this with poor leadership that can diminish performance. It introduces the "situation, behavior, impact" framework as a method for delivering clear and actionable feedback that fosters understanding and development. Additionally, common pitfalls in giving feedback include timing, accusatory language, generalization, unsolicited solutions, and public criticism. The text also stresses the importance of being open to receiving feedback, maintaining curiosity, and asking clarifying questions to learn and grow from the feedback received.