• April 27, 2024

How much do you tolerate that others express their opinion about your work? Does constructive criticism exist?

In a course taught by famed film director Guillermo Arriaga Jordán, he explained that very often, aspiring writers, they sent their work to them with the aim of reading them and omitting their criticism, which they always do willingly.

However, the problem said, is that "when I point out the flaws or inconsistencies of the text and I let the author know, not only is he upset but a negative image of me is created," shared Arriaga.

These are not isolated cases or specific to a particular work environment, everyone, regardless of what we do, we are exposed to leave our performance in view of others, and whether we ask or not, is subject to constructive criticisms as destructive.

The basis of what creates conflict in this sense is not the comments we receive but the expectations we had both of them and our work, that is to say that we run the risk that if we thought that we would take the fanfares well done we thought we had done something, and this does not happen, the blow to our ego will make us look badly any feedback we receive.

Another chance

Of course, it is not always one who asks for an opinion, many times they arrive without being requested and the impact they can cause in both cases is completely different, as the psychologist explains. LuisEscorcia, professor at the Faculty of Psychology of the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

The difference, he says, lies in the fact that when he is the one who requests it, at the beginning he has given a vote of confidence and recognition to the other person, while in the second case, in addition to lacking these elements, there is a prejudice to ask ourselves "And who asked for your opinion?", Which disqualifies any idea that is expressed.

To avoid disappointment at the slightest provocation, the specialist says that one must learn between a criticism and a personal opinion, the first will be based on experience and knowledge, while one opinion rests on individual preferences and points of view.

In addition, it also seeks to influence a change of objective first. Not so the criticism, that even with the overwhelming that this word may be, applied in a good sense, it seeks to find what is perfectible in the field in which it is exercised.

Once we have distinguished these differences, we must choose to stay with the propositive criticism, the one that helps us get more benefit and for that, the expert recommends asking the following questions to the person who makes it:

• What do you consider to be my successes?

• What qualities do you observe in me, to modify my mistakes?

• Why do you think I am wrong in my behavior?

• Can you offer me some solutions? Not to act as the critic would, but to see other alternatives.

Start at the beginning

Keeping an open mind to listen to others can represent an area of ​​incredible opportunity, just imagine the valuable advice that a director of the stature of Guillermo Arriaga, who has been nominated for an Oscar and his work was awarded at Cannes, could give any person who is interested in venturing into the film medium through letters. However, that kind of opportunity evaporates when we are unable to silence the ego.

The shortest path to the perfectible, is to accept that everything has an area of ​​improvement and that the search for new experiences always opens an opportunity to grow and reach the point we aspire to.
"Self-knowledge restrains pride". bojorge@teleton.org.mx