Well, it’s Monday morning… time to go back into the office and pick up the pieces from yesterday! :)
If your church is like most churches, and you’re like most pastors, you’ll get the occasional email or note that will be less than complimentary. Sometimes people even sign their name to these notes (although many times they do not).
So… how do YOU deal with critical notes? Thom Rainer has some great tips:
1. Don’t respond immediately
Often our first response is emotional and not well thought. We write things we later regret.
2. Pray
One leader told me that he not only prayed about the response; he prayed for the critic as well. That often changed his attitude significantly about the critic.
3. Decide if ANY response is necessary.
Sometimes the best response is no response, especially if the critic is unreasonable and unwilling to hear another perspective.
4. Discern if the criticism has any validity.
One of the more sobering moments of my own leadership is when I look at a criticism objectively and realize that much of what it says is true. On more than one occasion, I have had to respond with egg on my face and admit I was wrong.
5. When possible, call the critic.
Much is lost and misunderstood in written communications… Often times, it’s difficult to resolve differences behind the comfort of a keyboard.
Get more of Thom’s advice here.
So… how do YOU normally deal with written criticism?
Todd
After prayer and deciding whether a response is necessary, I make every effort to speak with the critic in person or at least on the phone. I believe that for most pastors who teach, the spoken word is our “A” game, and why would you want to bring anything less in addressing criticism?