Tag Archives: constructive criticism

The Value of a Mentorship

Having a mentor can be a valuable experience and is an idea that some schools here have adopted. They bring in experts in certain areas and these experts take young people under their wing to teach, encourage and help them in their chosen path. It also works well at college age group, or in fact at any age. I have been on the receiving end of a mentorship as well as on the giving end, both in areas of writing. In each case it was a worthwhile relationship. A mentor needs not only to be someone who is further along … Continue reading →

Marriage Tips: I Statements

Okay, this is not a new concept in relationships, but it is a valuable one. Even if you have heard this before, remember, it does work. Use “I statements” to communicate problems or concerns instead of saying things that sound accusatory. Saying “I feel hurt” will bring forth a much better response than “You hurt my feelings.” This is true for marriage and for other relationships as well. Combining constructive criticism, good listening skills, and the use of I statements will develop a better form of communication between you and your husband or wife. Examples: This: I didn’t know. Instead … Continue reading →

Marriage Tips: Constructive Criticism

It is important to offer constructive criticism instead of putting your spouse on the defensive. No one likes to hear about their faults or areas in which they need to improve, so voicing such issues has to be done with care and respect. Experts suggest “sandwiching” a complaint between two positive statements. Build your spouse up with a complement, suggest the area that needs improvement, and make another positive statement. For example, “I appreciate the fact that you are so involved with the kids, but it would really be great if you played with them earlier in the day, instead … Continue reading →

Do You Know How to Fight Fairly?

Do you know how to fight fairly? I didn’t. In fact, I grew up in a household where bickering was just a prelude to an all out fight where people meant what they said and there was no friendly nattering going on. My husband and I had to learn the rules of how we would handle disagreements. He needed to learn how to how tone it down where I was concerned and I needed to learn to dial back my temper so that instead of hurling insults that were completely counterproductive to problem resolution. It’s hard to find a handbook … Continue reading →