https://rickbaker.ca/category/criticism-constructive-criticism-is-an-oxymoron/ Rick Baker's Thought Posts — plain-spoken writing on leadership, business values, communication, habits, and the people side of building a business. Publishing since 2008. en-ca https://rickbaker.ca/post/howling-at-the-moon-wont-make-it-any-brighter-yapping-dogs-dont-make-their-owners-any-smarter/https://rickbaker.ca/post/howling-at-the-moon-wont-make-it-any-brighter-yapping-dogs-dont-make-their-owners-any-smarter/Sat, 12 Jun 2021 07:23:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Constructive criticism is an oxymoron ...in relationships, it's an interpersonal liberty taken one step too far. https://rickbaker.ca/post/some-ancient-wisdom-for-success-have-bone-in-back-not-bone-in-head/https://rickbaker.ca/post/some-ancient-wisdom-for-success-have-bone-in-back-not-bone-in-head/Thu, 03 Jun 2021 07:19:00 -0500The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet Probably no ancient person ever said that. But, we will never know for sure. On the other hand, I did write “ People… https://rickbaker.ca/post/about-influencing-powerful-people-1/https://rickbaker.ca/post/about-influencing-powerful-people-1/Thu, 27 May 2021 07:05:00 -0500Here's a quote from Dirk Schlimm - “ I learned that influencing powerful people is a better and more effective route than complaining about them. ” This… https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-are-so-derisiveif-only-you-could-change-that-r-to-a-c-youd-have-one-good-character-attribute-going-for-you/https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-are-so-derisiveif-only-you-could-change-that-r-to-a-c-youd-have-one-good-character-attribute-going-for-you/Tue, 25 May 2021 07:24:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet This thought occurred to me while I was trying not to listen to a particularly annoying nitpicker. ...but for one letter… https://rickbaker.ca/post/our-fingers-naturally-point-outwards-perhaps-thats-why-we-point-at-others-when-its-time-to-place-blame-criticism/https://rickbaker.ca/post/our-fingers-naturally-point-outwards-perhaps-thats-why-we-point-at-others-when-its-time-to-place-blame-criticism/Mon, 24 May 2021 07:58:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet The joys of evolution! It seems [until someone helps me understand otherwise] we humans are the only animals capable of… https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-you-want-to-build-them-up-dont-put-them-down-criticism/https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-you-want-to-build-them-up-dont-put-them-down-criticism/Thu, 20 May 2021 07:05:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet When you have authority, most people shut down, in one way or another, in response to your criticism ... Maybe you want them to… https://rickbaker.ca/post/better-to-fix-the-problem-than-to-fix-the-blame-2021/https://rickbaker.ca/post/better-to-fix-the-problem-than-to-fix-the-blame-2021/Fri, 23 Apr 2021 07:47:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Winners seek solutions and think of better places. Losers agonize over problems and fear uncertainty. https://rickbaker.ca/post/over-2000-years-ago-roman-stoics-developed-the-habit-of-waiting-a-day-before-beating-slaves-who-had-erred/https://rickbaker.ca/post/over-2000-years-ago-roman-stoics-developed-the-habit-of-waiting-a-day-before-beating-slaves-who-had-erred/Fri, 16 Apr 2021 07:24:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Speaking of Good Habits & Constructive Criticism... If those ancient Romans could have that kind of self-control, just think… https://rickbaker.ca/post/its-okay-to-yell-and-scream-at-workcelebrations-do-not-have-to-be-subdued/https://rickbaker.ca/post/its-okay-to-yell-and-scream-at-workcelebrations-do-not-have-to-be-subdued/Sun, 04 Apr 2021 07:04:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Baby Boomers , an interesting ' generation ': grew up under pressure ...watched the first steps on the moon...survived disco… https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-too-can-see-the-positive-things-in-peoplejust-open-your-mind-then-your-eyes-attitude/https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-too-can-see-the-positive-things-in-peoplejust-open-your-mind-then-your-eyes-attitude/Mon, 15 Mar 2021 07:20:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet When you have a positive mental attitude you are less critical of others. When you have an agreeable personality you are less… https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-we-were-newborn-babes-we-somehow-knew-the-best-way-to-get-what-we-wanted-was-kicking-and-screaming/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-we-were-newborn-babes-we-somehow-knew-the-best-way-to-get-what-we-wanted-was-kicking-and-screaming/Sun, 28 Feb 2021 07:06:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet When we were newborn babes, we somehow knew the best way to get what we wanted was kicking and screaming. At first, really nice… https://rickbaker.ca/post/dont-shoot-the-messenger-until-youve-at-least-had-a-chance-to-see-the-opportunity-attitude/https://rickbaker.ca/post/dont-shoot-the-messenger-until-youve-at-least-had-a-chance-to-see-the-opportunity-attitude/Thu, 11 Feb 2021 07:38:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Too often we close our ears and our minds to those who express objections . Too often we close our eyes and our minds to… https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-fool-no-one-and-annoy-many-when-you-set-bars-higher-than-you-yourself-can-jump/https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-fool-no-one-and-annoy-many-when-you-set-bars-higher-than-you-yourself-can-jump/Tue, 09 Feb 2021 07:53:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet To the full extent possible - do not delegate work you cannot do yourself. At the very least, take utmost care if you find… https://rickbaker.ca/post/wow-you-seem-surprised-to-find-others-become-silent-when-you-put-down-their-ideas-criticism/https://rickbaker.ca/post/wow-you-seem-surprised-to-find-others-become-silent-when-you-put-down-their-ideas-criticism/Mon, 08 Feb 2021 07:49:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Try putting an end to receiving input from people then vetoing their ideas and shutting people down. Even better, try putting… https://rickbaker.ca/post/those-who-seek-perfection-in-others-will-find-the-human-condition-is-permeated-with-imperfections/https://rickbaker.ca/post/those-who-seek-perfection-in-others-will-find-the-human-condition-is-permeated-with-imperfections/Sat, 06 Feb 2021 07:17:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Do not assume you are your own harshest critic . Do not assume your perceptions of others are unbiased or fair or reasonable… https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-less-confident-you-feel-the-more-you-criticize-others/https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-less-confident-you-feel-the-more-you-criticize-others/Fri, 15 Jan 2021 07:05:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet So, Confidence is criticism's antidote. https://rickbaker.ca/post/so-you-have-a-mind-like-a-steel-trap-do-you-then-you-will-know-intelligent-life-forms-choose-to-avoid-traps/https://rickbaker.ca/post/so-you-have-a-mind-like-a-steel-trap-do-you-then-you-will-know-intelligent-life-forms-choose-to-avoid-traps/Wed, 13 Jan 2021 07:02:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Illustrations of mental prowess can put people off....especially when performed by braggarts and wiseacres. https://rickbaker.ca/post/courage-breeds-confidence-and-confidence-breeds-conviction-creativity-attitude/https://rickbaker.ca/post/courage-breeds-confidence-and-confidence-breeds-conviction-creativity-attitude/Sat, 09 Jan 2021 07:56:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet It takes courage to face adversity . It takes courage to face criticism . It takes courage to face change. Children are born… https://rickbaker.ca/post/it-seems-providing-advice-on-how-to-succeed-is-nowhere-near-as-difficult-as-helping-people-succeed/https://rickbaker.ca/post/it-seems-providing-advice-on-how-to-succeed-is-nowhere-near-as-difficult-as-helping-people-succeed/Thu, 07 Jan 2021 07:25:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Most people have lots of advice [opinions, suggestions, criticisms , commands , etc.] to share with others. Few people… https://rickbaker.ca/post/we-cannot-practice-what-we-dont-know-the-howbut-we-may-be-able-to-teach-the-how-when-we-dont-know-the-how/https://rickbaker.ca/post/we-cannot-practice-what-we-dont-know-the-howbut-we-may-be-able-to-teach-the-how-when-we-dont-know-the-how/Sat, 02 Jan 2021 07:24:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet " Do as I say, not as I do ." & " Practice what you preach. " We use these sayings as justifications and criticisms when advice… https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-you-criticize-people-their-brains-scream-no-and-constructive-communication-is-over/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-you-criticize-people-their-brains-scream-no-and-constructive-communication-is-over/Fri, 25 Dec 2020 07:37:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet When 'No' thoughts are filling the brain there is little room for 'Yes" thoughts. In fact, chances are 'No' and 'Yes' thoughts… https://rickbaker.ca/post/to-lead-use-light-fingers-at-the-controls-heavy-finger-governance-and-control-just-sends-things-off-kilter/https://rickbaker.ca/post/to-lead-use-light-fingers-at-the-controls-heavy-finger-governance-and-control-just-sends-things-off-kilter/Tue, 22 Dec 2020 07:42:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet From Wikipedia... In 1868, James Clerk Maxwell wrote a famous paper "On governors” that is widely considered a classic in… https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-we-had-not-learned-the-word-no-when-we-were-young-we-would-spend-a-lot-less-time-thinking-about-our-mistakes/https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-we-had-not-learned-the-word-no-when-we-were-young-we-would-spend-a-lot-less-time-thinking-about-our-mistakes/Sun, 20 Dec 2020 07:32:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet When we were young a lot of people started to say "No" to us. We were made to believe it was wrong to say and do certain… https://rickbaker.ca/post/it-takes-two-to-tug-of-warunless-of-course-you-choose-to-battle-people-in-your-head/https://rickbaker.ca/post/it-takes-two-to-tug-of-warunless-of-course-you-choose-to-battle-people-in-your-head/Tue, 15 Dec 2020 07:44:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet It takes two to tango; it takes two to tangle; it takes two to tug-of-war. And, more often than not, the two must bring an… https://rickbaker.ca/post/courage-is-the-prime-enabler-it-enables-self-analysis-self-confidence-curiosity-creativity-innovation-courage/https://rickbaker.ca/post/courage-is-the-prime-enabler-it-enables-self-analysis-self-confidence-curiosity-creativity-innovation-courage/Sat, 05 Dec 2020 07:13:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet It takes courage to face adversity . It takes courage to face criticism . It takes courage to face change . Children are born… https://rickbaker.ca/post/beware-a-dose-of-your-own-medicine-could-be-a-tough-pill-to-swallow/https://rickbaker.ca/post/beware-a-dose-of-your-own-medicine-could-be-a-tough-pill-to-swallow/Fri, 04 Dec 2020 07:08:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Most of us have heard the proverb " Physician heal thyself ." The moral of the proverb is fix your own defects before you… https://rickbaker.ca/post/i-used-to-give-people-pieces-of-my-mind-now-i-know-i-cannot-afford-such-giveaways/https://rickbaker.ca/post/i-used-to-give-people-pieces-of-my-mind-now-i-know-i-cannot-afford-such-giveaways/Sun, 15 Nov 2020 07:13:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Even if I could afford to waste my brain, it's much more fulfilling to cut people up to size. https://rickbaker.ca/post/catcheth-thou-when-thou-doth-protest-too-much/https://rickbaker.ca/post/catcheth-thou-when-thou-doth-protest-too-much/Tue, 10 Nov 2020 07:30:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet There's a good reason why Shakespeare put that " doth protest too much " line in Hamlet. Many people are unable to express an… https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-you-want-to-get-something-out-of-your-system-make-it-productivity/https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-you-want-to-get-something-out-of-your-system-make-it-productivity/Sun, 25 Oct 2020 07:27:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet I believe it was James Watt who first said, " If you want to blow off steam, put it to work ." [I could be wrong about that...] https://rickbaker.ca/post/better-to-be-skilled-at-puzzles-than-cross-words-2020/https://rickbaker.ca/post/better-to-be-skilled-at-puzzles-than-cross-words-2020/Fri, 16 Oct 2020 07:49:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet When you are skilled at puzzles you deliver value. When you are skilled at cross words you remove value. Constructive criticism… https://rickbaker.ca/post/speak-of-the-devils-advocatebetter-still-bite-your-tongue/https://rickbaker.ca/post/speak-of-the-devils-advocatebetter-still-bite-your-tongue/Wed, 07 Oct 2020 07:22:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Constructive criticism is an oxymoron. Devil's Advocates ... here's an excerpt from Wikipedia: "In common parlance, a devil's… https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-you-point-out-1-error-the-person-may-accept-your-feedback-if-you-point-out-6-the-person-will-not-criticism/https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-you-point-out-1-error-the-person-may-accept-your-feedback-if-you-point-out-6-the-person-will-not-criticism/Thu, 01 Oct 2020 07:56:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Think about it: what's your tolerance for criticism ? [As you consider that last question...Never mind what your logical mind… https://rickbaker.ca/post/people-eat-sour-fruit-sparingly-yet-they-complain-about-it-much/https://rickbaker.ca/post/people-eat-sour-fruit-sparingly-yet-they-complain-about-it-much/Fri, 18 Sep 2020 07:35:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Sometimes sour fruit is the best thing to consume. The British found that out several centuries ago and the practice of eating… https://rickbaker.ca/post/objective-well-intentioned-well-delivered-criticism-will-still-gnaw-rip-and-tear-thin-skin-2020/https://rickbaker.ca/post/objective-well-intentioned-well-delivered-criticism-will-still-gnaw-rip-and-tear-thin-skin-2020/Fri, 11 Sep 2020 07:44:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Criticism will always gnaw, rip, and tear at thin skin. That is a given. The only question is: how will the thin-skinned person… https://rickbaker.ca/post/perhaps-complaining-about-other-people-is-gratifyingperhaps-it-satisfies-a-need/https://rickbaker.ca/post/perhaps-complaining-about-other-people-is-gratifyingperhaps-it-satisfies-a-need/Wed, 09 Sep 2020 07:27:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Why do people complain about the actions of another person? Presumably, the answer is - complaining about other people is… https://rickbaker.ca/post/winners-seek-solutions-and-think-of-better-placeslosers-agonize-over-problems-and-fear-uncertainty/https://rickbaker.ca/post/winners-seek-solutions-and-think-of-better-placeslosers-agonize-over-problems-and-fear-uncertainty/Thu, 03 Sep 2020 07:53:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet The choice is yours. Choose fixing the problem over fixing the blame. https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-more-you-squeeze-their-heads-in-the-vice-the-less-clearly-they-think/https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-more-you-squeeze-their-heads-in-the-vice-the-less-clearly-they-think/Tue, 18 Aug 2020 07:01:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet While a little pressure may go a long way, constructive criticism is an oxymoron and excessive criticism is guaranteed to cause… https://rickbaker.ca/post/may-your-molehills-remain-molehills-and-may-your-ego-choose-molehills-over-mountain-climbing/https://rickbaker.ca/post/may-your-molehills-remain-molehills-and-may-your-ego-choose-molehills-over-mountain-climbing/Fri, 14 Aug 2020 07:17:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Better to climb mountains in your mind than on the back of your donkey-ego. https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-parasites-live-where-the-great-have-little-secret-sores/https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-parasites-live-where-the-great-have-little-secret-sores/Sat, 11 Jul 2020 07:36:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet According to history or legend, when the great Henry Ford was caught in a very compromising situation he said, " Never… https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-cannot-know-the-humour-at-your-office-when-it-all-happens-behind-your-back/https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-cannot-know-the-humour-at-your-office-when-it-all-happens-behind-your-back/Fri, 26 Jun 2020 07:00:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet The missed-joys of bad-boss oblivion, when ignorance creates behind-the-back bliss. What you don't know can be damned funny… https://rickbaker.ca/post/evolution-we-enjoy-the-benefits-of-both-opposing-thumbs-and-blame-pointing-fingers/https://rickbaker.ca/post/evolution-we-enjoy-the-benefits-of-both-opposing-thumbs-and-blame-pointing-fingers/Mon, 08 Jun 2020 07:48:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Our fingers naturally point outwards. Perhaps, that's why we point at others when it's time to place blame . https://rickbaker.ca/post/i-developed-a-serious-interest-in-other-people-in-less-than-5-decades/https://rickbaker.ca/post/i-developed-a-serious-interest-in-other-people-in-less-than-5-decades/Sat, 06 Jun 2020 07:57:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet From a very early age, I noticed people making mistakes . I didn't just notice it. Their mistakes scraped in my ears, seared my… https://rickbaker.ca/post/criticism-is-a-contagious-thingits-the-polar-opposite-of-pay-it-forward/https://rickbaker.ca/post/criticism-is-a-contagious-thingits-the-polar-opposite-of-pay-it-forward/Mon, 25 May 2020 07:04:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet When we criticize others they tend to carry on the tradition by criticizing the people the encounter...they criticize the… https://rickbaker.ca/post/give-yourself-injections-of-that-oxymoron-constructive-criticism/https://rickbaker.ca/post/give-yourself-injections-of-that-oxymoron-constructive-criticism/Sat, 02 May 2020 07:15:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Create a Do It Yourself Hormesis Program , aimed at thickening your skin and building your tolerance for other people's… https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-they-are-messing-on-the-floor-sometimes-you-just-gotta-put-down-your-newspaper/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-they-are-messing-on-the-floor-sometimes-you-just-gotta-put-down-your-newspaper/Thu, 30 Apr 2020 07:34:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet It actually happened just after the turn of the century...amidst double entendre & a wicked sense of humour . https://rickbaker.ca/post/may-your-ego-refuse-to-jump-over-molehills-to-join-the-mule-trains-climbing-all-those-mountains/https://rickbaker.ca/post/may-your-ego-refuse-to-jump-over-molehills-to-join-the-mule-trains-climbing-all-those-mountains/Wed, 29 Apr 2020 07:41:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Sometimes those little voices in our heads goad us into thoughts and actions that really defy logic. Deep down we know the… https://rickbaker.ca/post/take-your-big-treasure-chest-of-curiosity-off-the-shelfdust-it-offopen-it-upand-put-its-contents-to-good-use/https://rickbaker.ca/post/take-your-big-treasure-chest-of-curiosity-off-the-shelfdust-it-offopen-it-upand-put-its-contents-to-good-use/Wed, 22 Apr 2020 07:57:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet At one time, you were an incessantly curious and creative person. You were chock full of curiosity. Over the years and through… https://rickbaker.ca/post/talking-russian-roulette-shooting-off-your-mouth-ignorant-of-what-your-brain-has-placed-in-the-cylinder-behind-your-muzzle/https://rickbaker.ca/post/talking-russian-roulette-shooting-off-your-mouth-ignorant-of-what-your-brain-has-placed-in-the-cylinder-behind-your-muzzle/Fri, 17 Apr 2020 07:11:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet You meet people whose brain-to-mouth filters fail on a regular basis. And you see the damage happening in real time: damage to… https://rickbaker.ca/post/doubters-dont-build-criticism-attitude/https://rickbaker.ca/post/doubters-dont-build-criticism-attitude/Sat, 11 Jan 2020 07:18:00 -0500The Thinking Behind the Tweet Doubters criticize. Doubters demotivate. Doubters question when questions are simply annoying. In these ways, doubters are… https://rickbaker.ca/post/better-to-be-skilled-at-puzzles-than-cross-words/https://rickbaker.ca/post/better-to-be-skilled-at-puzzles-than-cross-words/Fri, 10 Jan 2020 07:09:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Puzzles are part of life. Often they turn out to be doors to opportunities. Cross words are criticism and constructive…