I don’t take too well to criticism. It’s not a good skill to have as an entrepreneur. I know it, and I’m working on it. I’m struggling to find a balance between taking criticism in, being curious about it, learning, and growing, versus getting defensive.
I’m being completely vulnerable here, because I know that we often talk about building up one’s confidence, especially as women founders. I do think it’s more than confidence building, and being able to take criticism.
How do ambitious women stay open to learning without surrendering their sense of self?
I was diagnosed with ADD recently. It happened after I’ve struggled for the past several years with focusing on one thing at a time. Apparently, having ADD can erode one’s self confidence. Often forgetting things, being easily distracted aren’t seen as good skills in the real world, let alone in the professional world. And even if there isn’t any judgement from others, I often judge myself.
I’m learning slowly to trust in myself. It sounds so cliche, but we might be our harshest critic. Trusting one’s self is something I’m learning to do more and more. I’ve written about it here and how it impacts my business decisions.
Not every criticism deserves your attention
Speaking of attention, Brené Brown said “share with the ones who earned the right to hear our story”. Not everyone earns the right to criticize you. What is the intention behind their criticism? Is their criticism actionable? Are they helping in any way?
Don’t pay attention to every criticism.
On the flip side, have you met someone and instantly thought: this person is warm, and means every word they say? And you’ve likely also met people that you felt weren’t truly authentic with you. Our gut often tells us a lot, and I’m learning to listen to my gut more about those instincts. Giving a lot of ourselves is often tiring and depleting, but when it’s done with the right people, and those who reciprocate the same energy, can feel exciting, motivating and inspiring. Find someone who matches that energy.
Surround yourself with a strong sounding board
This is often hard to find, but surrounding yourself with the right people can help to balance your own self-criticism with sound decision making. Finding people you can trust who understand your context is something I’ve been working on over the past 10 years. There aer people in life who come and go, but I’m finding that staying connected with people who have your best interest at heart is very important. Whether that was a mentor, a board member, a partner you’ve worked with, it’s good to stay in touch with them throughout the years.
How do you handle criticism?
Inclusive Entrepreneurship 