Criticism: Get used to it

By CHUCK STINNETT Gleaner staff 831-8343 " cstinnett@thegleaner.com
January 15, 2006

It's not a question of "if" you will be criticized on the job. It's a matter of when. So you'd best go ahead and prepare yourself for handling gripes, Rev. Todd Linn of First Baptist Church in Henderson said recently during his monthly Power Lunch presentation to business people.

"Just go ahead and expect someone to throw stones at you," Linn said.

"We live in an imperfect world, and because we live in an imperfect world, there will be imperfect people" who will find fault with you, perhaps unfairly, he said.

He offered four suggestions for dealing with what we he calls "taking hits on the battlefield of your workplace":

Be ready.

"It will happen to you," Linn promised. "If not today, then tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then in six months or a year.

"A great deal of relief will come to you from being ready," he said.

Be calm.

"You've got to be calm even though our tendency is to get angry," Linn said, noting the prayer inspired by St. Augustine: "Lord, deliver me from the lust of vindicating myself."

Be tough.

"Especially if you are a supervisor, a business leader or an owner, you've got be willing to take some hits," Linn said.

"The longer we're in this thing, the tougher we get. It comes with the territory. The only way we can avoid it is to be a nobody and do nothing."

Be wise.

Keep your perspective. Look at the big picture. Understand that if the complaint, criticism or attack that you face is small or unwarranted, it will probably pass quickly enough. Even if it doesn't, you may ultimately benefit from it.

"It may be to prepare you for tougher criticism," Linn said.

One could even adopt the spirit of George Whitefield, an 18th century English evangelist. Whitefield is said to have once received a vicious letter from a critic, to which he replied simply:

"I thank you heartily for your letter. As for what you and my other enemies are saying against me, I know worse things about myself than you will ever say about me. With love in Christ, George Whitefield."

Or, as early 20th century newspaperman H.L. Mencken would write to respond to those who wrote hateful, accusing or eccentric notes to him:

"Dear Sir (or Madam), You may be right."

**Courier Press