Resistance and Criticism: 8 Facts and 8 Lessons

If you are a leader, you will invariably face situations where:

• People will criticize you for doing something.
• People will criticize you even for not doing something.
• Your decisions will go against you.
• You will face a lot of resistance in your initiatives.
• Roadblocks will be encountered
• People will closely analyze your decisions.
• You may be accused of doing (or not doing) something.
• Or you will encounter people with wrong motives.

So, what will you do? Give up? Here’s what you should know:

• Criticism is inevitable. The fact that people are criticizing means that you are doing something meaningful.
• We are at our competitive best when we are pushed to the edge by the critics/adversities.
• Each criticism or resistance is an opportunity to learn something new.
• Resistance enables you to understand how people operate. (an important skill)
• If someone extends a pen to you, you have a choice whether you want to accept it or not. (Ditto with criticism)
• The best way to answer a critic is to do a kick-ass job at whatever you do. Great conduct is a profound statement.
• Keep an open mind when being criticized – it may well be an opportunity to improve upon yourself.
• Criticism, resistance and adversities at work should always help you in raising your own game.

On that note, have a Fantastic Friday!

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BONUS: Be sure to check out the latest edition of Leadership Development Carnival – Love Story Edition by Mark Stelzner at Inflexion Advisors Blog – a great collection of leadership insights from practitioners. Carnival includes my post: “Creating a Learning Organization – 10 Actions for a Leader“