The Power of Positive Criticism

Chapter . The Wrath of Criticism

Anger. It is one of the most feared responses to criticism, even for the most skillful critics. And with good reason. Anger is a powerful emotion that, if not kept in check, can create trouble. Take the extreme example of the executive who criticized his staff member at a team meeting. The employee quickly got to his feet and hurled his coffee at his critic. He also sprayed a few innocent bystanders.

Studies have shown that people get angry up to ten times during the course of the working day, and your own experiences will tell you that many of those anger episodes revolve around the criticism process, especially giving criticism. Take the research that most individuals manage anger poorly, mix it with the frequency ...