Stand upright! Don't let negative reviews affect you.
Negative criticism is something most of us face in every aspect of our lives. Many of us are uncomfortable with this situation and experience low motivation. Side effects. This behavior is the weapon of those who want to take you down. So, does it make sense to give in to it? The point is to be fearless when that gun is pointed at us. It's okay not to listen to these negative reviews. The important thing is to stand up straight and not fall.
Imagine this: you've finally finished the book you've given your entire career to write. Your book launch is in full swing and you see a negative review as you browse Amazon. You don't need to imagine further to understand the frustration and distress that a bad comment brings. It's tempting to take people's negative reactions as comments about who you are when you put all that hard work into something that you'll eventually find people don't like, but that's usually not the case.
Anyone who offers a product or service—whether it is a book, a restaurant business, or even a business consulting business—will eventually suffer the disaster of bad reviews. Every consumer has different goals, tastes, and ways of communicating, so it's unlikely you'll turn everyone into a crazy fan. Used correctly, negative comments can be constructive rather than hurtful.
Keep the following principles in mind.
It's Not Personal
Do you like everything you read, eat, buy or experience? Of course not. It is very important to separate your self-worth from what people think of your work because they are criticizing the work, not you. You often take criticism for your identity, but negative comments are likely from people who don't know you. Remember: these are work related.
Critical Comments Can Be Good Comments
When someone makes a negative comment, put some time between reading it the first time and the second time. Once you have calmed down and are able to see with a clear head, review it again and note down any points that might be helpful versus those that might just be one person's preference or opinion. Consult friends, family, or trusted colleagues for feedback on these thoughts and come up with a plan for solving important issues in your future work. While there are times when the commenter doesn't provide more insight than "Bad" or "I hated it," there are more times when a review can help you improve your business at increasing speed.
Get Job, Not Anger
In most cases, it's best not to respond to a negative review at all. (If a reader doesn't like your story, there's no point arguing.) However, in the age of social media, we are expected to respond publicly to a negative comment. While self-defense is instinctive when attacked, it's important to step back and take a deep breath before responding. If you come back with a defensive argument about why the commenter was wrong, or worse, personally attack the commenter, you're making it clear that you're not strong enough to deal with criticism with balance and depth. This type of personality does not appeal to potential readers, customers, or buyers and harms your brand. In response to a negative review or rating, “Thank you for your feedback!” or “I appreciate your perspective and would like to think more about it” is sufficient. An online war of words cannot be won and by showing respect you gain more friends and followers.
It's not fun to deal with negative comments, but don't let them drag you down or turn you into someone you never wanted to be. Train yourself to see criticism as an opportunity to empower yourself and your business. Over time, you'll develop better and faster ways to cope and move forward, even if the initial frustration doesn't get easier.
