Knowing how to take honest critical feedback is a skill.
It seems that it’s something that kids become less and less adept at receiving over the years. Educators and parents become more concerned with self esteem and not hurting the feelings of kids, so they live in a little bit of a false reality. In fourth grade I was on the track team at my school. At our final relay race of the year, we competed against other schools and used what felt like a professional track at a local high school. Our relay team finished in 2nd or 3rd place. I was just happy I didn’t drop the baton. Though we finished in 2nd or 3rd place, we didn’t place in 2nd or 3rd place. We were disqualified. It turns out the someone on our team (hint: me), ran out of their track lane during the race, which instantly disqualified the team. Despite losing, we still received a medal, which we didn’t reserve and was horrible feedback.
It’s hard for some people to receive honest feedback because they have a fixed mindset. Instead of taking the criticism as something to work on, they take it as a personal attack. That’s because they see their skills as fixed, something they can’t improve. So to criticize their skills is to criticize them. The person with a growth mindset sees feedback as an opportunity for development and challenge.
The video below is a hilarious example of honest feedback. There is lots and lots of swearing in it so you probably want to listen to it with headphones on (or out range from young impressionable children).
Eric Berget says
How is this not a reality tv show?
Ben Nesvig says
That would be amazing.