Success often confounds some people, and instead of celebrating it, they seek to undermine it. These critics are not interested in offering constructive feedback; rather, they aim to lower your spirits and diminish your work. While constructive criticism is a crucial part of growth, some forms of criticism are purely destructive. Here are the five worst types of critics you might encounter:
1. The Philosopher
This person loves to appear as the expert who knows everything. When you show them your work, they ignore the big picture and focus on insignificant details like “the font you chose is inappropriate” or “you should move this word 2 pixels to the right”. They give you suggestions that neither matter to you nor to them, just to seem knowledgeable.
How to deal with them? Don’t let them overstep. Present your opinion seriously, smile, then move on to another topic with someone else and ignore them.
2. The Success Hater
This person doesn’t like you or your success. No matter how good your work is, they will refuse to acknowledge it and will always try to downplay it.
How to deal with them? Don’t engage in a discussion. Nod your head, change the subject, and make it clear that they are not important to you. Being firm and showing a bit of arrogance can help prevent them from escalating.
3. The Female Critic
The female critic can be harsh in her criticisms, disregarding your feelings or the effort you’ve put in. She might use harsh words without thinking or showing respect. For her, it’s as simple as throwing out a comment and moving on.
How to deal with her? Smile and don’t give the conversation any weight. Responding and arguing with her is often futile.
4. The Fool
This person doesn’t even know what they’re talking about, but insists on criticizing and appearing as the genius. They attack you directly for no reason and see themselves as having the right to control everything. They might raise their voice and belittle you without hesitation.
How to deal with them? Don’t respond to them at all. Ignore them completely, as responding will only stress you out with no benefit.
5. The Outsider
This person has no relation to the field you work in, but they give their candid opinion based on their limited knowledge and personal taste. They may not intend to offend, but their comments can be annoying because they speak in a completely different world.
How to deal with them? Accept their opinion with an open mind, gently explain your point of view, and then withdraw. Try to give their opinion some importance so you can quickly move on.
Note: The purpose of this post is not to devalue anyone or reject criticism altogether, but to highlight the difference between constructive criticism and destructive criticism that stems from negative motives.