Which is better? Compliments or Criticism?

Who doesn't love compliments?!?

Compliments validate students' efforts. They provide encouragement and motivation to continue doing well. Genuine compliments can enhance self-confidence. They lead to increased self-esteem. Compliments foster positive connections with others. They promote a supportive learning environment. They demonstrate that effort is recognized and appreciated. Regular compliments can contribute to a positive mindset and overall well-being. They help create a positive atmosphere and can inspire optimism and happiness.



Reframe criticism as a suggestion instead of complaint:

Constructive criticism in the form of suggestions can provide valuable insights and perspectives that identify areas for improvement. Suggest where to improve skills, knowledge, or behavior. The suggestions encourage introspection to think about actions, decisions, or work critically which leads to personal growth. Listening to criticism from others provides different viewpoints to broaden understanding of alternative approaches or ideas. Constructive criticism helps develop a realistic view of abilities and perspective that help foster self-awareness. Learning to handle criticism constructively builds resilience and adaptability to learn from setbacks, bounce back, and make necessary adjustments.



Ultimately, a healthy balance of both compliments and criticism is often beneficial. Compliments provide motivation, recognition, and reinforcement while constructive criticism can guide personal growth and improvement. It's important to remember that the quality and intent behind criticism or compliments does matter. Constructive criticism should be specific, focused on behavior or actions, and aimed at helping someone improve, while compliments should be genuine, sincere, and specific to the individual or their achievements. Often its good to "sandwich" suggestions around criticism.