How to Handle Destructive Criticism (Pen it Down results)

Destructive criticism is negative feedback that harms, undermines, or offends the recipient. It may also impact the person’s reputation and prestige or denigrate their creations or achievements.

Destructive criticism often comes in the form of a personal attack or emotional outburst. It may be based on prejudice, such as sexism or racism, or result from the critic’s own frustrations and insecurities.

For example, if you question an employee’s way of doing things, it might make them feel defensive or inadequate. They might then react by lashing out at you or others around them.

Rather than defending themselves, they attack — and the result is often destructive criticism.

Destructive criticism is usually vague and non-specific. It focuses on people’s personal attributes rather than their actions — for example, calling someone stupid for making a mistake, rather than explaining what they did wrong.