Challenging vs. Criticizing
One of my favorite posts (that I’ve written anyways) was Ideas vs. Opinions. I don’t know that it was 100% accurate, but I think the message was right on.
I’d like to expound on this idea some more. So here’s a new comparison chart. I hope you find this helpful.
I think the biggest “challenge” to challenging is knowing how to do so without patronizing.
I completely agree with you – the words we use are a powerful thing.
Not only is it important to use postive not negative words when talking with others but also to ourselves. I have been focused on ensuring the words that leave my mouth are positive for a good month now – it is an interesting challenge and one that I am seeing positive rewards from daily.
Good points Lucia. I wasn’t necessarily focusing on positive vs. negative (though that should be considered as well), but on what stops people vs. what motivates them. Those two juxtapositions may be the very same in some circumstances. But sometimes we don’t want to stop someone from doing something, we REALLY want to motivate them to change how they do it.
Here’s my question, does our response to someone stop them, or does it motivate them to change? I guess we could also ask this same question of how we deal with ourselves.
criticizing is certainly not the way to go, especially in the workplace when there are various opinions and people are attached to their opinions.
I would recommend saying “thats a good point…also consider”
The insight in this post is much needed in today’s workplace.
I like your first observation. “This is what I believe you can do.”
I’ve been blessed with people who said that to me and it made all the difference in my performance. And I also know the impact it has on my work when there is no one telling me they believe I can achieve the results we’re after.
Keep creating,
Mike