Constructive Criticism can help to improve the way you work. Nevertheless, it is not very popular in perfectionist Germany. It is different in other countries.

Work better & more efficiently thanks to criticism: Every feedback helps me advance

Successful innovation and feedback culture: In other countries you are further

Some time ago, in my column in the daily newspaper “Die Welt” about the American Feedback-Culture written. A topic that is obviously topical in Germany: Shortly thereafter, Medium magazine also reported on the American culture of innovation and feedback in Silicon Valley.

Obviously, other countries manage to do something the Germans still struggle with: there is a successful feedback culture there. But why is that? And how do you become more productive in this country through criticism?

Master in giving feedback

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In Texas - whose capital Austin is not called Silicon Hills for nothing - I noticed that it is common practice there customers to request feedback. There is even an active demand for it. Even in restaurants you should fill out feedback forms - something that is still a rarity in Germany and Switzerland.

I'm just thinking of the many training providers who, for purely formal reasons, have feedback forms filled out by some certificationRegulate are mandatory. Feedback as a necessary evil, so to speak. And the reaction is correspondingly panicked when well-founded criticism is actually leveled.

Make targeted use of the innovation potential of criticism

In the US, however, criticism is a normal part of culture. It is dealt with accordingly loosely. Successful Companys like Google even draw their innovation potential from it. In which Internet- Giants, and not only there, new products are launched as beta products and then comprehensively evaluated by customers. This is the only way to create those innovative ones ideas, which make Google one of the most successful companies of our time.

In Germany, unfortunately, people often find it difficult to accept criticism. Because the prevailing culture of perfectionism doesn't allow for any mistakes. Dealing with feedback is correspondingly difficult for the individual: both the feedback giver and the feedback recipient are often unsure how to deal with it. So reported Executives-Training Sabine Lanius in an article Best of HR – Berufebilder.de®

“I keep meeting leaders who are uncomfortable giving feedback feel…and again and again Employeesthat almost already Anxiety before feedback."

5 tips for real criticism

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What can you do to reduce the fear of criticism? Communicating feedback correctly is the answer. And react correctly. Because then there is no feedback Problem, but makes work more productive.

  1. Avoid reviews and ratings: Explain in detail what you mean and what exactly you are referring to - then the other person will understand better what your concern is and will feel less criticized. It is ideal if you offer a solution right away, eg “The results were not ideal this month. We could do XY to improve productivity. "
  2. Typical mistakes: Often enough, feedback does not arrive as desired, even if it is well meant. Typical errors when giving feedback are, for example, feedback that is too indirect or pent-up criticism that suddenly erupts. In the first case, the criticized person does not know what to do; in the second case he is simply overwhelmed.
  3. Do not mix praise and criticism: Many people try to soften the force of the criticism by prefixing it with praise. That is a problem, however: what gets stuck is primarily the “but” - the criticism devalues ​​the praise, so to speak.
  4. Respond correctly to criticism: Anyone who is criticized must have the opportunity to respond. If you don't understand a criticism, ask. For example, also for alternative solutions. Then take a position on the criticism, but without justifying yourself. Avoid the “yes… but” sentences that are so typical in such cases. Instead: Show what you want to do better in the future.
  5. Respond to irrelevant criticism: Not all criticism is justified, or it is expressed in an unconstructive way. Questions that specifically follow a negative statement are particularly common. “You are obviously overwhelmed with this task. What projects do you have planned for the next quarter? " Most of the time you just answer the question and leave the previously made statement unchanged. However, you are not rejecting the negative assessment. In such cases, it is better to respond objectively to the statement and refute it with facts: "As the figures show, I am by no means overwhelmed with my work, but was able to make additional profits." Only then do you answer the question: “Based on these successes, I plan for the coming quarter ...”


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