Criticizing is easy.  All you have to do is simply point out what you don’t like. “I don’t like this, I don’t like that. Go back and try it again.”  All easy to say.  The problem with criticism is that it doesn’t go far enough.  Plain criticism fails because it only points out what you don’t like.  It only eliminates a handful of unsatisfactory options rather than identifying possible solutions.

When you criticize you only help your colleague reach your desired outcome incrementally. They can only eliminate what you clearly don’t like.  They’re missing a key piece of information – where t0 start their search for the solution that will solve your problem.

This is a suboptimal approach to problem solving.  The better answer is to think in terms of potential solutions.

If you are providing criticism you can’t stop at pointing out what you don’t like or what you want changed.  You need to provide feedback with a solution orientation.  Phrase your feedback in terms of potential solutions.  Even if you don’t have the answers you should still talk in terms of potential solutions.  At the very least articulate what you are trying to solve with your recommended changes or criticism.  At best it gives your colleague a road map to solve the problem.  At worst it gives them a hint of where you think the answer lies.

Speak in terms of potential solutions.

If, on the other hand, you’re receiving criticism from a business owner it’s up to you to unearth what are potential solutions.  You need to help reframe the criticism by asking questions from a solution orientation.   If your colleague is having problems expressing themselves from a solutions perspective you can help them by asking “How would you like to see it done?” “What do you think it should look like?” and proposing several quick solutions of your own.  This will help you get the information you need to deliver a solution that will meet their requirement faster than simply taking the criticism and working from there.

Whether you’re giving criticism or receiving it, you can reach the goal much faster by moving from criticism to finding solutions. So the next time you find yourself in a conversation based on criticism ask what can you do to instead help spot the solution?