פארוואס זאלט ​​איר נישט מורא האבן פאר קריטיק

When no one can evaluate our work, it is safe for us. But we will not be able to grow as a specialist. In our company, we are probably the best pros, but outside it, it turns out that people know and can do much more. Stepping outside your comfort zone is scary. And not to go out — to remain “middling” forever.

Why share

To create something worthwhile, the work must be shown. If we create alone, we lose course. We get stuck in the process and do not see the result from the outside.

Honore de Balzac described the story in The Unknown Masterpiece. The artist Frenhofer spent ten years working on a painting that, according to his plan, was to change art forever. During this time, Frenhofer did not show the masterpiece to anyone. When he finished the work, he invited colleagues to the workshop. But in response, he heard only embarrassed criticism, and then looked at the picture through the eyes of the audience and realized that the work was worthless.

This happens in life too. You have an idea how to attract new customers to the company. You gather information and draw up a detailed implementation plan. Go to the authorities in anticipation. Imagine that the boss will issue a bonus or offer a new position. You show the idea to the manager and hear: “We already tried this two years ago, but we spent money in vain.”

To prevent this from happening, Austin Kleon, designer and author of Steal Like an Artist, advises constantly showing your work: from the first drafts to the final result. Do it publicly and every day. The more feedback and criticism you get, the easier it will be to stay on track.

Few people want to hear harsh criticism, so they hide in the workshop and wait for the right moment. But this moment never comes, because the work will not be perfect, especially without comments.

Volunteering to show work is the only way to grow professionally. But you need to do this carefully so that you don’t regret later and don’t stop creating at all.

Why are we afraid

It’s okay to be afraid of criticism. Fear is a defense mechanism that protects us from danger, like the shell of an armadillo.

I worked for a non-profit magazine. The authors were not paid, but they still sent articles. They liked the editorial policy — without censorship and restrictions. For the sake of such freedom, they worked for free. But many articles did not reach publication. Not because they were bad, on the contrary.

The authors used the shared folder “For Lynch”: they put finished articles into it for the rest to comment. The better the article, the more criticism — everyone tried to help. The author corrected a couple of first comments, but after another dozen he decided that the article was no good, and threw it away. The Lynch folder has become a graveyard of the best articles. It’s bad that the authors didn’t finish the job, but they couldn’t ignore the comments either.

The problem with this system was that the authors showed the work to everyone at once. That is, they went ahead, instead of first enlisting support.

Get a professional critique first. This is a way to get around the fear: you are not afraid to show your work to the editor and at the same time do not deprive yourself of criticism. This means you are growing professionally.

שטיצן גרופּע

Gathering a support group is a more advanced way. The difference is that the author shows the work not to one person, but to several. But he chooses them himself, and not necessarily from among the professionals. This technique was invented by the American publicist Roy Peter Clark. He gathered around him a team of friends, colleagues, experts and mentors. First he showed the work to them and only then to the rest of the world.

Clark’s assistants are gentle but firm in their criticism. He corrects the shortcomings and publishes the work without fear.

The support group is different. Perhaps you need an evil mentor. Or, on the contrary, a fan who appreciates your every work. The main thing is that you trust each member of the group.

Student position

The most helpful critics are arrogant. They have become professionals because they do not tolerate bad work. Now they treat you as demandingly as they always treated themselves. And they don’t try to please, so they’re rude. It is unpleasant to face such a critic, but one can benefit from it.

If you start to defend yourself, the evil critic will flare up and go on the attack. Or worse, he will decide that you are hopeless and shut up. If you decide not to get involved, you will not learn important things. Try another tactic — take the position of a student. Don’t defend your work, ask questions. Then even the most arrogant critic will try to help:

— You are mediocre: you take black and white photos because you don’t know how to work with color!

— Advise what to read about color in photography.

“You’re running wrong, so you’re out of breath.

— Truth? Tell me more.

This will calm the critic, and he will try to help — he will tell everything he knows. Professionals are looking for people with whom they can share their experience. And the longer he instructs, the more faithfully he will become your admirer. And you all know the subject better. The critic will follow your progress and consider them a little bit of his own. After all, he taught you.

learn to endure

If you do something noticeable, there will be a lot of critics. Treat it like an exercise: if you last, you’ll get stronger.

Designer Mike Monteiro said that the ability to take a punch is the most valuable skill he learned in art school. Once a week, the students exhibited their work, and the rest came up with the most cruel remarks. You could say anything — the students gutted each other, brought to tears. This exercise helped build thick skin.

Excuses will only make things worse.

If you feel strong in yourself, voluntarily go to the lynch. Submit your work to a professional blog and have colleagues review it. Repeat the exercise until you get a callus.

Call a friend who is always by your side and read the comments together. Discuss the most unfair ones: after the conversation it will become easier. You will soon notice that critics repeat each other. You will stop being angry, and then learn to take a hit.