How Not to Take Criticism
Gordon Ramsay is a famous English chef who has his own TV show about “kitchen nightmares“. He basically goes to “rubbish” restaurants, calls everything the way he sees it and tries to help with both a culinary and business mind.
Oh, and by “calls it as he sees it”, I mean he’ll insult you, your food and your family while swearing and flailing all over the place.
You could imagine that the unsuspecting chefs are a little taken aback and pride kicks in. Well, this is usually the case, but recently while watching the show there was one man in particular that couldn’t take the criticism. It wasn’t even from Gordon himself, but customers!
The chef in question here cooked up one of his signature dishes for a group of local fireman. Here’s a brief synopsis of the following events:
Ramsay: So, how was your f#%&’n meal?
FF #1: Well, the meat was a little dry.
FF #2: I wish mine would’ve been hotter.
FF #3: Mine was a little over cooked.
Simple criticism, and easy to fix. Cook it less, give it to them sooner. Easy, right?
“How can they criticize my food when it’s not even what they do for a living? I come here and do this everyday and they’re going to tell me what’s good and what isn’t?”
That was the chef’s reaction. Now, the guy probably has some deep psychological issues, but seriously: because they don’t cook for a living they can’t tell you what they thought of your food? Do they not have tongues?
More of a Creative View, Not Culinary
If someone doesn’t like your design, your writing or anything that you do, and you hear about it, how do you act? If I get readers telling me the new design is fine, but graphic designers telling me I should focus more on a grid, there’s two sides to take into account.
- Just because someone isn’t a professional doesn’t mean they don’t have an opinion you’re entitled to.
- The customer (that provides the criticism) isn’t always right, like the popular saying goes. But they are if you want them to remain a customer.
I don’t know what the web design equivalent to over cooked is, but lets say it’s colour choices. If someone tells you flat out that they hate your use of colours in a design, there is no use listening to that. On the other hand, if someone tells you that you could use a little bit more saturated or warmer colours, then that’s something to consider.
Constructiveness isn’t something that little babies need to keep their egos in check, it’s something everyone should use to improve what’s in question. Calling my last (shortlived) design distasteful and that’s it leaves nothing to be improved upon and makes me think less of your opinion.
In the end, all criticism is subjective anyways. Everything is subjective, so you need to pick the right way to see things to get the most out of the situation.
Leave a comment
Henry
November 20th, 2007 at 3:07 PM
You are rather slow, he now does ‘The F Word’ - very suitable title.
I think i take criticism quite well, i listen and improve using their guidance, but if i disagree with them i tell them and try and back up my reasons. I might get a little hot headed when someone flat is says it’s s@$t though.
Razor
November 20th, 2007 at 5:59 PM
He is in canada though, although there is no excuse for not using google XD
“you call that fucking food? i wouldnt feed that to my fucking dog!”
Razor
November 20th, 2007 at 6:03 PM
get an edit button lol —
i remember that episode, was quite funny.
As for what you said about the design, me personally, i would rather listen to my “customers” then a “professional” designer. after all the designer only came to the site to take a look and scrutinize it right?
Visitors opinions over a “pro” designer for me.
Terinea Weblog
November 21st, 2007 at 8:37 PM
I love the show and if I was running a failing restaurant, I’d love to have someone of his knowledge giving me advice.
He’s Scottish, not English by the way.
Jamie
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