When is it appropriate to criticize someone or an organization when you are giving a presentation? I have a simple rule of thumb that has worked well for me:
Feel free to criticize if someone is paying you good money. If no one is paying you money, then don’t criticize.
In my experience, most people don’t want criticism or like criticism. Sure, people may say they want candid feedback, but they don’t. The one exception is when someone has sought you out because of your expertise and knowledge, preferably there is not a previous personal relationship, and then they pay you money to give criticism in a specific, targeted fashion.
In my own field of presentation coaching, when people pay me a nice fee to criticize and disprove their speaking, I have great results. Clients listen to me, follow my every suggestion, improve dramatically and are highly appreciative. However, when friends or personal associates ask for advice on presentations, the results rarely turn out as well. I don’t think this is a unique experience for me.
When people pay money for criticism, they have made an investment to receive criticism and are disappointed if they don’t receive it. This is the perfect time to speak out with your criticisms.
But without the payment, I find that it is too hard to overcome people’s natural aversion to criticism. So be careful with your spoken words of critique.
Obviously, there are exceptions, if you are the boss, the CEO or a politician, you have to deliver criticism when speaking to people. But if you are the average businessperson speaking to colleagues or associates regarding your industry, then be careful where you point your criticism. Because if people don’t want to hear it, they won’t hear anything else you say either.
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