How Leaders Should Handle Public Criticism
The last few years have wrought a wave of employee activism and public critiques of leaders. Elon Musk’s recent experiences at Twitter may be an extreme case, but the swift public scolding from employees and the world indicates that when it comes to expressing our sharp disapproval, leaders are fair game.
If you’re a leader who’s facing down the strident criticism of those you lead (and even if you’re not, you’d be wise to assume your turn may be around the corner), here are some ways to steel yourself and respond well.
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How to handle criticism
- Acknowledge the criticism
- Consider the validity of the criticism
- Respond in a timely and professional manner
- Take action to address the criticism, if necessary
- Learn from the criticism to improve in the future
