Helping Staff Handle Criticism

As can often be the case at many news­pa­pers, the rela­tion­ship between Edi­tors and other staff can become strained when sug­ges­tions meant to improve the con­tent cause an indi­vid­ual to feel antagonized.

Per­son­ally, I’ve always found that wrap­ping a cri­tique in a com­pli­ment is the best deliv­ery system.

Blue= Com­pli­ment

Red= Crit­i­cism

“Your head­line was great. I think the story needed a lot of work. There are sev­eral places where you can improve it. The idea is good though.  I’m look­ing for­ward to see­ing the next draft.”

Of course it is pos­si­ble that the recip­i­ent may still be some­what indig­nant.  By nature, some just don’t respond well.

What do you do when you need to cor­rect a per­son with whom you work?

How do you give criticism?

If they  don’t respond well to the crit­i­cism… what do you do?  How should one smooth things over?