Criticism Management: How to More Effectively Give, Receive, and Seek Criticism in Our Lives [Paperback]

Randy Garner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 21, 2006

Criticism Management provides a road map for handling criticism and criticism-prone situations that we all experience in our daily lives. The very concept of criticism is examined and the term redefined to help us see the potential benefits from more effectively giving, receiving, and even seeking criticism from others. Some of the important questions addressed: Why do people criticize? Is it better to give or receive criticism? What are some of the communication problems we encounter in dealing with criticism? How can we better assess criticism we receive from others? How can we best respond to criticism? What are the advantages of actually soliciting criticism from others? This book can change your perceptions of criticism and the critics in your life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Criticism Management provides a powerful message that can allow all of us to view criticism less defensively. -- Editor, Journal of Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice

Dr. Garner's excellent book has become a standard-issue text in all of our leadership development programs. -- Executive Director, Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas

From the Publisher

Criticism Management is a thought-provoking book that helps us to view criticism from a new perspective. Dr. Garner’s engaging writing style and carefully crafted advice allows us to rethink our concept of criticism, so that we might give, receive, and even seek criticism more effectively.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 150 pages
• Publisher: Prescient Press (January 21, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977499707
• ISBN-13: 978-0977499700
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #716,844 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #41 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Personal Health > Stress > Anger Management

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Criticism Management Review, November 10, 2006

By 

Reauxdom "Reauxdom" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Criticism Management: How to More Effectively Give, Receive, and Seek Criticism in Our Lives (Paperback)

This book is a great resource for personal development, and is especially valuable to those who are seeking to advance professionally. It gives guidance on how one should accept criticism and avoid becoming defensive when receiving feedback. The book suggests one steps back and views criticism from a 3rd person perspective, focusing on the content of the criticism and not loosing sight of the message through misguided emotion. It also provides guidance and suggestions as to how managers can effectively present criticism to those they supervise. Great read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book for Managers and Leaders, April 18, 2007

By 

Robert Garrett, PhD "Rob" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Criticism Management: How to More Effectively Give, Receive, and Seek Criticism in Our Lives (Paperback)

This text was recommended to me by someone who received a copy in a Leadership seminar. Since that time, I have recommended it to many others. Garner offers great insights into how we can more effectively deal with criticism in all aspects of our lives. He offers a completely new way to think about criticism---not only in the criticism we might receive from others, but in how we give criticism. Dr. Garner explains the origin of the term and helps us to realize that the sniping that we have come to associate with criticism should not be the focus.
When giving criticism Garner suggests that we consider exactly what we want to accomplish---is it to intentionally hurt or to help someone to GRIPE (Grow, Recover, Improve, Prosper or Excel). He suggests that when managers and supervisors offer criticism, they should do it with the mindset of offering criticism to our children. He correctly points out that our goal with children is to help them become better, improve, etc., not to psychologically berate them. As he points out the goal is to have a win-win relationship (we don't want a "I win, you lose" relationship with our children. This was a powerful message for me and for many others. He has great techniques for dealing with criticism, for offering criticism (even for those who don't have to listen to you), and even on ways to better solicit criticism in advance.
This book is great for those of us who regularly provide criticism and feedback to others. Leaders, managers, supervisors, and anyone who deals with criticism should place this on their "MUST HAVE" list for their personal and professional development library.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise and Clear, May 31, 2006

By 

Prof23 (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Criticism Management: How to More Effectively Give, Receive, and Seek Criticism in Our Lives (Paperback)

As a college professor who teaches communication courses in the Business Administration area, I appreciated reviewing Dr. Garner's very clear and concise book on how to better address criticism. We know empirical research clearly indicates that communication issues are extraordinarily important for leaders and managers; and communications involving emotionally-charged criticism is all the more problematic. Dr. Garner does an outstanding job of highlighting this issue and offers practical tips and advice on how to reconsider what we "think" we know about criticism. The considerations that he offers and the cognitive tools he suggests should be read, reviewed, and practiced by everyone in a leadership or management position.