There are times when critique is needed and times when it serves no value.
- First Day on the job? Give them a chance, everyone screws up.
- Second Day on the job? Where were you on your second day?
- Third week on the job? Are they learning and still trying?
Would you critique a fireperson’s use of a hose as they are in the middle of putting out the fire?
Definitely not, they got the fire out.
Save the critique for after the fire, when everyone’s heads are clear and no one’s life is on the line.
The same goes for many other areas of our work. If you critique someone on the first day of their job, is that the best time for it? Does that help them improve or learn from their mistakes? Does that truly give them a chance?
No, in which case save the Critiques for when they matter and when they can be seen as tools of growth because we all know who the strongest critic is for them, and it’s not you, it has and always will be the person receiving them.
