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.
4 Responses to “Challenging vs. Criticizing ”
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'Casual Fridays' is about what happens when work is less about appearances and more about the humanity within. How do we strip away office politics, corporate jargon and red tape? Wouldn't we rather clothe ourselves in creativity, ideas and productivity? It's an ideal at least worth chasing.
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Lucia Mancuso
May 21st, 2007 at 11:02 pm
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.
DUST!N
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:33 am
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.
Dan Schawbel
May 25th, 2007 at 7:37 am
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”
Michael Wagner
May 31st, 2007 at 8:40 am
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