Motivational Monday...Critique the Deed, Not the Person
One of my pet peeves (of which I have been guilty) is when we call people names. Think back to your days in school. I think it was there 
that we honed our skills at calling someone four-eyes.
When someone dropped a ball that we thought should easily have been caught, he became butterfingers.
For more positive results and to help with a child’s self-esteem, it is suggested that we praise or critique their actions but not them personally. Calling someone dummy is not helpful (even though it may have been warranted)
If they misbehave or do something wrong, we talk about what they did without saying, for example, that they are a bad person for running over little Johnny’s foot.
Name-calling has descended to a new low lately. It’s happening on all sides and in between.
But think about this... when you call someone a name, whether it’s your child or spouse, your peer, or someone in government, you have directed the attention away from their deeds or actions. The focus has now been placed on the name.
The recipient of your name-calling isn’t listening to what you’re trying to say. They are now ready to attack the fact that you called them a name.
And let’s face it...if you were called an unkind name, forget the message, you’re ready for attack mode!
Name-calling in my mind shows a lack of thought and creativity.
We’re so much better than that.
A critic should be taught to criticize a work of art without making any reference to the personality of the author. Oscar Wilde
Comments(24)