Do you handle criticism effectively or poorly? (71-4)
When you are in leadership, criticism and confrontation will come with the territory. Read Numbers 12:3-14.
During the time the Hebrew nation was traveling in the wilderness, Moses married a non-Hebrew woman. This was a society where having several wives was accepted but the problem was Moses did not choose a Hebrew woman. We do not know if this foreign wife had converted to Judaism but we do know it caused major dissention in Moses’ family and leadership team. Both Aaron and Miriam confronted Moses and gave him a sharp rebuke. God ultimately intervened and confirmed Moses’ position but there are some things every leader can learn from this incident.
Leaders can expect to be criticized and that criticism will change them – either to become a better leader or a bitter leader. Notice what God and Moses teach us about how to handle criticism from today’s verses:
- Maintain your humility (v.3).
- Face the criticism squarely (v.4).
- Be specific about the issue (vv.5-8).
- Lay out consequences (vv 9-10).
- Pray for the criticizers (vv 12-13).
- Restore them when appropriate (v.14).
In The Maxwell Leadership Bible, John Maxwell lays out 10 other elements to consider as leaders handle criticism:
- Understand the difference between constructive and destructive criticism (who benefits?).
- Don’t take yourself too seriously (but take God very seriously).
- Look beyond the criticism to see the critic (do you respect him? What’s their need?).
- Guard your own attitude toward the critic (don’t get defensive; stay objective).
- Recognize that good people get criticized (don’t beat yourself up).
- Keep yourself physically and spiritually in shape (weariness distorts perspective).
- Don’t see only the critic; see the crowd (is the criticism widespread?).
- Wait for time to prove the critic wrong (be mature enough to be patient).
- Associate with people of faith (spend your optional time with optimists).
- Concentrate on your mission; change your mistakes (focus on the big picture).
How a leader handles criticism determines their right to lead and their long term potential as a leader. If you have handled criticism poorly in the past, chart a new course starting today. If you have determined to act differently in the future, start by changing how you think about criticism.
Tags: Confrontation, Criticism, Pray
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Comments (4)
Don, similar to your experience, an introvert must make some conscious effort to change a few of their personality traits if they aspire to have a leadership role. Introverts who stay deep in the background are seldom considered for leadership roles. The lack of introverts in leadership has little to do with talent or gifts or ability to lead but more to do with visibility.
Generally, over time, if an introvert works at personal change, the gifts of an introvert are recognized if they are diligent to do their job so even though they don’t get instant recognition the recognition will come. Once they are recognized as someone that does a good job they seldom loose that reputation in part because they don’t draw attention to themselves. Introverts are generally not promoted to leadership positions immediately but overtime they generally find their way into leadership just because they have a good reputation, have maintained a good reputation over a long period of time and they are very consistent in their work.
Thanks for the comment brother.
Barry, in reading “Do you handle criticism effectively or poorly?”, how do you see the role of an introvert and extrovert in leadership. An introvert is many times very sensitive and criticism gets them down. Can an introvert be a good leader. On a personal note, I am an introvert by nature(Myers Briggs ISTJ). I have learned, though, to be more extroverted because that is necessary to survive in this world and to have a circle of good friends. Anyway, I could go on for days…Thanks, Barry