What is constructive criticism?
Here are some definitions:
Is the process of offering valid and well-reasoned opinions about the work of others, usually involving both positive and negative comments, in a friendly manner rather than an oppositional one. The purpose of constructive criticism is to improve the outcome.
Criticism: The act of passing judgment as to the merits of anything.
The act or art of analyzing and evaluating or judging the quality of a literary or artistic work, musical performance, art exhibit, dramatic production, etc.
Here are some examples of good and bad criticism
Example: Hey everybody! I'd like somebody to critique my graphic art for this little thing I'm working on! Any help is appreciated! I'd like you guys to state improvements I could do and any little tips and tricks that can make this piece better!
{insert piece of art}
Here a good example on good constructive criticism wrote:Your art looks very lovely! I love how you used texture in this edit and it did it justice! I think if you added a bit more vibrance and tone down the brightness, it will look even more spectacular!
Here's an example on bad criticism wrote:Ehhh.. It's ok? It's super bright though and it's hurting my eyes. And why are the colors so dull?
Example: Hey everybody! I'd like somebody to critique my cosplay for an upcoming contest! Any help is appreciated! I'd like you guys to state improvements I could do and any little tips and tricks that can make this piece better!
{insert piece of art}
Here a good example on good constructive criticism wrote:Your cosplay looks very lovely! I love how you used texture in the skirt and it did it justice! I think if you added a better boot cover and tone down the sparkles, it will look even more spectacular!
Here's an example on bad criticism wrote:Ehhh.. It's ok? Maybe it would look better with some major photoshop? You should find some better shoes and waaay too much sparkles. It looks like a unicorn threw up on you. Less sparkles and better fabric. You have a lot of work ahead of you.
Having that in mind, here are some examples and tips that I found on the internet about constructive criticism.
Use the Feedback Sandwich method.
The feedback sandwich method is a popular method of giving constructive criticism. It is often used in Toastmasters and in the corporate environment. A simple name I’ve given for the feedback sandwich is PIP, which stands for Positive-Improvement-Positive.
You start off by focusing on the strengths—what you like about the item in question. Then, you provide the criticism—things you didn’t like; the areas of improvement. Lastly, you round off the feedback with (a) a reiteration of the positive comments you gave at the beginning and (b) the positive results that can be expected if the criticism is acted upon.
Be specific with your feedback.
Comment on things which can be acted upon.
The whole point of giving feedback is to help the person improve.
Hence, you want to talk about things which the person can do something about, rather than things which are outside of his/her control. Critiquing on the former makes your criticism constructive; critiquing on the latter just makes the person feel bad because he/she can’t do anything about it, even if he/she wants to. While you can make points on latter especially if they are very crucial, balance things out by talking about things he/she can control.
Give recommendations on how to improve.
When all is said and done, it helps to give recommendations on what the person can do to improve. Firstly, your recommendations will tie up your critique in a nice bow. Everyone has varying perspectives, which means every critique can be interpreted in different ways. Giving your recommendations will give the person a clear idea of what you have in mind. Secondly, giving recommendations provide a strong call-to-action. You want the person to take action on what you have shared, rather than procrastinate.
When giving recommendations, it helps (a) to be specific about the recommendations and (b) to briefly explain the rationale behind the recommendation.
