Jarrod Shapiro, DPM
Practice Perfect Editor
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Podiatric Medicine
Surgery & Biomechanics
College of Podiatric Medicine
Western University of
Health Sciences
St. Pomona, CA

Criticism: Do It Right

Can you take criticism? Do you get defensive? How do you critique others?

As a doctor who spends much of his time teaching students, doling out criticism is as much part of the job as lecturing or tweed suits (I don't actually wear tweed suits, but I think you get the picture). Similarly, I receive criticism and feedback from others about my work. This is also part of my daily non-work life as well. Truly, any time two or more people have a relationship of any sort, there is bound to be some form of criticism at some point.

Podiatric students learn in an environment rife with criticism. I think of it almost as a whirlwind of feedback with criticism flying around the student standing in the middle of that storm. I recall the amount of criticism I received on an average day during my training, much of it positive and plenty negative, and I understand why I'm so much less sensitive a person than when I was younger. Living in this environment surely gives one a thicker skin.

I'm thinking about one of my students who recently spent most of the day with me. In the morning, we did a surgical procedure in which he assisted. After the surgery, he spent the afternoon with me seeing a good number of patients in clinic. During this day, he received a litany of criticism and feedback by me. I can recall, for example, correcting his suturing technique, general OR skills, patient history gathering, wound care methods, and charting. He received this feedback not only from me, and I almost shudder to think what other criticism he received from other attendings and staff. And to his credit, he handled it all with grace and aplomb (and some quality suturing to boot!).

For those of us in the position of teacher or instructor – the position of power – we have a responsibility to apply the correct method of criticism at the appropriate time. In my time at Western U, I've had the opportunity to learn from seasoned teachers who provided valuable feedback in positive ways that remained respectful at all times. During my time in podiatry, I've also had the opportunity to see some truly negative and ineffective feedback. It seems simple and highly intuitive, yet I've seen so many individuals have a hard time with this.

Tonight's Premier Lecture is
Post-Op Shoes - Dilemma
by Harold Schoenhaus, DPM, FACFAS

I imagine it's a combination of things that elicit poor feedback: impatience, lack of knowledge, sarcasm, or just plain meanness. I once had an attending berate me during a procedure just to watch how I'd react.

For those GIVING the criticism here are some simple suggestions:

	1.	Follow the Golden Rule – If you would like to be treated disrespectfully, then by all means, continue to berate and put down those whom you are in a position to criticize. If you would instead follow the Golden Rule and do unto others as you would have them do unto you, then be respectful in your criticism.

	2.	The best method to apply appropriate criticism would be this one, which I found on Wikipedia: "Respect the individual, focus the criticism on the behaviour that needs changing – on what people actually do or actually say."

	3.	Be specific. State what the trainee is doing incorrectly and then provide specific, timely, focused, and respectful detail about how the trainee can improve in the future. Then provide timely follow-up whenever possible. Repetition may be necessary for mastery.

For those RECEIVING the criticism, I suggest the following:

	1.	Be open-minded and receptive. Accept the criticism and consider carefully the recommendations made. Remember that the person criticizing you might actually be correct.

	2.	Be thankful. Realize that the person doing the criticizing cares. If they didn't care, they wouldn't take the time and effort to criticize.

	3.	Don't be defensive. Don't explain or make excuses for the incorrect action or behavior. Nod your head and say, "OK."

Working with trainees has been for me a highly rewarding experience, one with multiple levels of complexity. These same skills that relate to our professional life also apply to personal life, so keep that in mind the next time you criticize a child or loved one. Consider these methods the next time you criticize someone, and never forget about glass houses and throwing stones!

Best wishes.

Jarrod Shapiro, DPM
PRESENT Practice Perfect Editor
[email protected]