Mastering Constructive Criticism: Turning Feedback into Fuel

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Welcome back to the business ignite podcast, where we light the fire

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for business growth and marketing success.

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Your hosts, Ethan Walker, Samantha Reed,

bring you the latest trends, expert

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insights, and actionable strategies

to fuel your business journey.

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Let's ignite your potential.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, so have you ever,

like, poured your heart into a design,

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and you're so ready to share it, you

know, get it out there, and then the

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feedback just Totally, it's not good.

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Ethan Walker: That can be brutal.

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Right, and it's like,

where did I go wrong?

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Samantha Reed: You're not alone, trust

me, every creative goes through that.

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I

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Ethan Walker: guess that

makes me feel a little better.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: But we're

tackling that today.

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We're doing a deep dive on how to

make those cringeworthy critique

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moments actually, you know.

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Useful.

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Useful, exactly.

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We're using this article.

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It's from 95 Visual.

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Samantha Reed: Oh, I've heard of them.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah, they're

like the design gurus, websites,

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branding, the whole nine yards.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Yeah, so they definitely

know their stuff then.

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Ethan Walker: They're in the

trenches dealing with this every day.

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And what really surprised me.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: They don't

even start with like.

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How to handle the criticism itself.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Really?

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It's more about what you do

before you even show your work.

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Ethan Walker: That's interesting.

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Why does that matter so much?

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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I was wondering the same thing.

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But they emphasize that so often, we

jump into asking for feedback without

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really thinking about our goals.

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Oh,

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Ethan Walker: I'm totally guilty of that.

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Me

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Samantha Reed: too!

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We're so excited to show off what

we've made, we forget to, you know,

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Ethan Walker: Like set the stage.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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We forget to ask ourselves

those basic questions.

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Ethan Walker: Like what they got.

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Like

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Samantha Reed: what problem are we

even trying to solve with this design?

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Who are we making this for?

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Ethan Walker: Oh yeah, that makes sense.

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Otherwise you just get vague

feedback that's not helpful.

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Samantha Reed: Right, like

this doesn't work for me and

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you're thinking, great, thanks.

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Ethan Walker: Okay, so if you do set

those goals beforehand, then what?

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Samantha Reed: Well, let's

say you're designing a logo.

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Instead of, What do

you think of this logo?

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You ask.

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Ethan Walker: Does this logo

convey what I'm going for?

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Samantha Reed: Yeah, or, I'm trying to

show trustworthiness and innovation.

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Does this achieve that?

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Ethan Walker: Oh, I see, you're giving

them something to measure it against.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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The feedback becomes so much more

focused and actually helpful.

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Ethan Walker: Okay, I

like where this is going.

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It's like setting clear

expectations from the start.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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And 95 Visual had this example about

a company designing a mobile app.

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Ethan Walker: Okay.

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Samantha Reed: It was really

sleek and stylish, but they

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hadn't really thought about, like

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Ethan Walker: Who was using it?

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Samantha Reed: Yeah,

their target audience.

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It was supposed to be

for older adults, but Oh

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Ethan Walker: no, that's not good.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah, they had to redo

the whole thing because the feedback was

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all about how hard it was to navigate.

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Ethan Walker: Oof, that's

a design nightmare.

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Samantha Reed: If they'd just

clarified who they were designing

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for, right from the beginning.

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Ethan Walker: They could've

saved so much time and energy.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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It's not just about getting feedback, it's

about making sure everyone's on the same

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page about what we're trying to achieve.

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Ethan Walker: I'm starting

to see that now, yeah.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, so, we've

got our goals figured out.

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We're ready with our elevator pitch.

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Ethan Walker: Right.

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Samantha Reed: Now, how do we actually

ask people for feedback without, you

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know, making them run for the hills?

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Ethan Walker: Like, how

do we make it less scary?

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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And 95 Visual says it can be as

simple as how you phrase the question.

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Ethan Walker: Really?

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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It's all about framing.

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Would you rather someone ask

for your opinion or your help?

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Ethan Walker: Oh, help for sure.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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judgy.

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Exactly.

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Ethan Walker: So, how do we ask

for help then, specifically?

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So,

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Samantha Reed: instead of, hey,

can I get your feedback on this?

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It's more like

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Ethan Walker: Hey, can you

lend me your expertise on this?

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Samantha Reed: Yeah, or, Hey, I'm

really struggling with this concept.

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Could you lend your eye to this?

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Ethan Walker: You're asking for

their help, not just their judgment.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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It shows that you value their input

and you see them as a partner.

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Ethan Walker: Not just a critic

waiting to tear you down.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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And it automatically makes the whole thing

feel less intimidating for both of you.

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Ethan Walker: I like that approach.

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Makes it more collaborative.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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So, We've set the stage with our goals.

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We're asking for help like pros.

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Ethan Walker: We're on a roll.

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Samantha Reed: But then

comes the hard part.

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Ethan Walker: Uh oh.

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Samantha Reed: Actually

receiving the criticism.

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The

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Ethan Walker: moment of truth, huh?

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Samantha Reed: And that's where

things can get interesting.

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Because even when we prep and we think

we're ready, it's still tough to hear

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that it's something we've worked on.

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You know?

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Ethan Walker: This isn't perfect.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Or that it needs more work.

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Ethan Walker: Especially

when you've poured your heart

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and soul into it, you know?

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Samantha Reed: Totally.

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95 Visual talks about detaching

your ego from the work.

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Ethan Walker: Oh, that's so hard though.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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It's easier said than done.

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Ethan Walker: Way easier.

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Samantha Reed: But they use this

analogy about learning to ride a bike.

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Ethan Walker: Okay.

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I can see where this is going.

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Samantha Reed: You don't just hop on

and become a pro instantly, right?

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There are wobbles.

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Ethan Walker: Definitely some wobbles.

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Samantha Reed: Some falls.

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Maybe a few scraped knees along the way.

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Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: I think we

all have those battle scars.

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Samantha Reed: For sure.

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But each of those, like, design

wipe outs, those failures

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Ethan Walker: They teach you something.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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You learn how to balance,

how to steer, you know.

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Ethan Walker: So you're saying that

those critiques, even the harsh

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ones, they're like those wipe outs.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, gotta be

honest, I kinda like that analogy.

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Ethan Walker: It's all

part of the process, right?

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: It's not about you

as a designer being a failure.

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It's just that the design itself

It needs some improvement.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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It's like this version just needs

a little more, I don't know.

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Ethan Walker: Refinement.

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Samantha Reed: Yes.

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Refinement.

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And speaking of refinement, 95 Visual also

talks about asking clarifying questions.

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Ethan Walker: Oh yeah, that's a good one.

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Because

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Samantha Reed: sometimes

the feedback is so vague.

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Ethan Walker: The worst.

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Samantha Reed: Like, this

just doesn't feel right, and

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you're like, Okay, now what?

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Right.

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Like, should I scrap the whole thing?

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Start over.

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Ethan Walker: That's where those

clarifying questions come in handy.

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Samantha Reed: Totally.

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Instead of just nodding along

like you understand, They

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Ethan Walker: dig a little deeper.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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Can you elaborate on that?

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What specifically feels off?

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Ethan Walker: Is it the color scheme?

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The layout, help me understand.

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Samantha Reed: Yes, and when you

ask those questions, you're not just

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getting more clarity for yourself.

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Ethan Walker: You're showing the

other person that you actually

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care about their feedback.

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Samantha Reed: And that you're

trying to actually use it to improve.

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Ethan Walker: Which makes them more

likely to, you know, actually give

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you thoughtful feedback in the future.

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Samantha Reed: Right, it turns it into

a dialogue, not just a one way critique.

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Ethan Walker: I'm all about that

open communication for sure.

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Samantha Reed: Me too.

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Okay, so, We've talked about setting

clear goals, asking for help, detaching

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our egos, asking clarifying questions.

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Ethan Walker: What else is there?

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Samantha Reed: Well, 95 visual

also emphasizes the importance of

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Ethan Walker: Don't tell me.

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Don't tell me.

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Samantha Reed: Gratitude.

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Ethan Walker: I knew it.

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Gratitude.

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Samantha Reed: Which sounds so simple.

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Ethan Walker: It is simple.

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But we forget it all the time.

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Samantha Reed: All the time,

especially when the feedback is, well

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Ethan Walker: Not exactly

what you wanted to hear.

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Right,

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Samantha Reed: when it feels

like a punch to the gut.

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Ethan Walker: But even then

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Samantha Reed: Even then

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Ethan Walker: Think about it, someone

took the time to share their thoughts,

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even if it wasn't sugar coated.

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Samantha Reed: That's true, it is

coming from a good place, usually.

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Ethan Walker: They want you

to succeed, and sometimes that

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means being upfront and honest.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, I see your point.

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Even if the delivery isn't perfect,

the intention is usually good.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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And when you acknowledge

that, when you show gratitude.

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Samantha Reed: It makes the

whole experience more positive.

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For

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Ethan Walker: both of you.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: And it builds trust, which

is crucial for any creative collaboration.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, I'm convinced.

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Gratitude, even when it's hard.

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Ethan Walker: Especially when it's hard.

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Samantha Reed: It's true though.

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We've been talking about design critiques.

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Ethan Walker: Right.

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Samantha Reed: But this

applies to like, Everything.

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Oh yeah, for sure.

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That big presentation at work,

getting feedback from your boss.

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Ethan Walker: Oh, nerve wracking.

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Samantha Reed: The worst.

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Or those performance reviews.

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Ethan Walker: Don't even

get me started, am I right?

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Samantha Reed: And even in our

personal lives, like, let's

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say you're trying a new recipe.

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Ethan Walker: Okay, I'm with you.

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Samantha Reed: You make this

amazing dinner, and your

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partner gives you that look.

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Ethan Walker: You know the one.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly!

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It's like, what went wrong?

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Ethan Walker: Instead of

getting defensive, though,

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: What if we use these

tips to actually, like, grow from it?

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Samantha Reed: Okay, now I'm really

interested, how would that even work?

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With the partner, the

recipe, the look, everything.

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Ethan Walker: Alright, so, imagine

you're making this fancy pasta dish.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Okay.

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Ethan Walker: And instead of just serving

it up, you say, Hey, I was going for,

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like, a really rich, savory flavor.

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How's the seasoning hitting you?

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Samantha Reed: Ooh, so sneaky.

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You're getting feedback, but

you're also kind of guiding it.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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It's not just a test

of your cooking skills.

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It's like you're both in on it together.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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And then what?

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What if they say, It

needs a little something.

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Ethan Walker: Instead of panicking.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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My instinct.

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Ethan Walker: You ask.

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What do you think it's missing?

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More salt.

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A squeeze of lemon.

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Samantha Reed: So it becomes

this collaborative thing.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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You're both working towards

the same delicious goal.

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Samantha Reed: Oh, I like that.

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No more kitchen nightmares.

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Ethan Walker: And the best

part is, the more you do this,

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the more natural it becomes.

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You start seeing feedback as

something helpful, not scary.

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Samantha Reed: It's like this

whole time we've been approaching

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feedback like it's a battle.

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Ethan Walker: Right.

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Shields up.

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Samantha Reed: When really, it's

more like building a bridge.

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Ethan Walker: I love that.

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Building a bridge together.

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Samantha Reed: And when you do that,

it not only makes the feedback better.

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Ethan Walker: It actually

strengthens your relationships too.

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Samantha Reed: This is amazing.

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I'm already thinking about how I can

use this in every part of my life.

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Work, relationships, everything.

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Ethan Walker: Me too.

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It's all about changing your

perspective, approaching feedback with

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curiosity, being open to learning.

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Samantha Reed: Well said.

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This deep dive has been

a game changer for sure.

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Ethan Walker: Glad to hear it.

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Samantha Reed: And listeners,

we want to hear from you.

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How do you handle criticism?

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What are your tips and tricks?

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Share your experiences

with us on social media.

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Ethan Walker: We'll be

checking those out for sure.

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Samantha Reed: Until next

time, happy creating.

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Speaker 2: Thanks for tuning

into the Business Ignite podcast,

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where we fuel your business

growth and marketing success.

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If you enjoyed today's episode,

be sure to rate and review us.

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It does help others find the show.

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Don't forget to follow us on social

media at Business Ignite podcast and

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share this episode with a friend.

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Keep the fire burning and remember,

your success is just one strategy away.

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Until next time, stay ignited.