For leaders, criticism is inevitable.
Criticism is inevitable because mistakes are inevitable. We will overlook things we should notice. Make bad decisions. Say things we shouldn’t. We fall short. We’re human.
Accepting this reality is the first step to responding to criticism with steady assurance, class, and understanding. The video above shows Steve Jobs doing just that.
Not only does Jobs show a terrific example of a leader carrying himself in the face of blunt criticism. He also provides a lesson on how a leader who is open to criticism can actually increase influence and build culture. He shows how giving others the space to express negative opinion – even if the criticism is unkind or unfair – can actually make the leader and the team stronger.
3 Lessons We Can Learn from How Steve Jobs Responds to Criticism
There are 3 things I really admire about how Jobs handled the exchange in the video:
- Full Stop: You can tell Jobs knew he was about to get blistered. But before he said a word he sat down, took a deep breath, then grabbed a sip of water. He gathered his thoughts. Then he quietly began his reply.
- Fight Fire with… Ice: Jobs does not attack his critic. He uses humor to lighten the mood, then he pivots. Acknowledging the criticism that good technology got cut, he then calmly explains the tough choices. He humbly admits that some of these decisions will be mistakes. (For more tips on handling haters see this article)...
Click here or the image above to finish the article and watch the video on our blog. | 
