Give Constructive Criticism, Constructively

In the age of social media, when platforms exist to voice any and all opinions, almost everyone's a critic.

With a sky rocketing number of talent groups showcasing all sorts of skills starting from dance, music, and poetry to even embroidery, quilting and voice impressions, the boundary is endless. However, with such massive exposure also comes huge waves of judgements – both positive and negative.

Going through the enormous province that is the social media feed, it is often observed that even the most extraordinary displays of art sometimes receive dissenting remarks. These judgements, although usually directed as an insult, are often passed in the name of "constructive criticism", a term that is so overused that it seems to have lost its meaning somewhere along the line.

Aside from the obvious confidence shattering effect, these comments are not only hurtful but also not helpful at all. If you genuinely wish to give effective feedback so someone can refine their craft, there are other beneficent ways to do so without it coming off as disrespect. To understand how, let us first comprehend what constructive criticism really is.

To put it simply, it is a thoughtful way of providing effective feedback that may include both positive and negative comments with good reasons so that one can improve their skills. It is meant to be specific and presented in a friendly manner, entirely with the intention to help bring progress.

Before making any comments, you must first question your own intentions. Ask yourself why you feel the need to share your criticism. If the answer is because you truly want to help, present your opinions with the attitude you would like to be approached with yourself, if you were in their shoes. Being thoughtful of the little things can bring about much more productive results than careless, hurtful words.

Rather than blunt statements declaring a piece of content laughable or worthless, it is considerate to start with whatever positive side you can find and then making your way up to specific improvements. When giving feedback it is also essential to remember that you must comment on the craft and not the person. Remarks on physical appearance or any personal subject does not fall under constructive criticism. You must only focus on behaviour that can be changed. Besides, it may also be insightful to be open to the other person's perspective as well since art is often subjective.

Coming to the other side of the spectrum, it is also the creator's responsibility to be open to feedback. More often than not, many people also fail to understand the point of constructive criticism and misinterpret it as hate. It is vital to accept that there is always room for improvement and if someone is respectfully presenting their observation, you can always welcome it for your own benefit. There is no reason to cower at the mention of your shortcomings and take it as an insult because we all have our shortcomings.

Anusha often has a lot on her plate. Send her memes and motivation at anusha.mourshed11@gmail.com