How Do You Handle Potential Negative Feedback?
Most likely, not well: you might fear negative comments, and even the thought of them can bring unpleasant sensations in your body, such as a feeling of constriction inside.
Why are we afraid of judgment and criticism?
Reflect on this—do you criticize yourself, or do you instead offer yourself words of encouragement? In my experience, many entrepreneurs tend to berate themselves mentally.
So why would others support you if you’re unwilling to support yourself?
Of course, the root of this issue often lies in childhood, but we’re adults now, capable of addressing these feelings without help from our parents or other significant figures.
The core purpose of self-critical thoughts is to avoid inner pain: “I’ll criticize myself, punish myself, and acknowledge my flaws before anyone else can point them out.”
1. Stop Placing Others on a Pedestal
When we do this, we inadvertently place potential clients or social media followers on a "pedestal," as if their opinions hold as much power in our lives as a parent’s words do for a child.
But that’s not true! Simply reduce the mental importance you assign to a person who left a negative comment.
This person is merely expressing what’s inside them. Their criticism reflects their personal story, which has nothing to do with you. You’re just a virtual stage where they’re releasing their negative emotions.
2. Stop Undermining Your Self-Esteem
Are you aware that by criticizing or punishing yourself for mistakes and imperfections, you’re lowering your self-esteem?
This is a dead end. By unconsciously avoiding imperfection and potential criticism, you’re not doing what’s necessary for your success!
Make it a habit to "catch" these self-critical thoughts and replace them with something like:
“Yes, I made a mistake. Everyone on Earth makes mistakes. It’s not shameful, scary, or critical. Instead, I’ll focus on how I can support myself right now.”
Come up with your own supportive phrase. Then ask yourself:
“What thought or action will help me quickly overcome this inner negativity? What thought will make me feel better?”
Once you’ve dealt with the negativity and restored your inner balance, only then should you address the situation. Decide—while in a calm state—whether to ignore, delete the negative comment, or respond to the critic.
3. Find Hidden Opportunities in Negative Comments
Here are three unexpected benefits of receiving negative feedback:
1) Increased Attention. Negative comments often draw more attention than positive ones. More attention on your content means potential clients are more likely to remember you, and social media algorithms may promote your content.
2) Constructive Feedback. Even negative feedback can help improve your products, services, or overall business—if it’s constructive. Learn to differentiate between aggressive outbursts and constructive criticism.
- Aggression is often vague and general.
- Constructive criticism is specific and based on facts.
For example:
- Aggression: “Another beauty salon? There are already too many! Everyone’s advertising beauty services!”
- Constructive Criticism: “I think your personality might not be a perfect fit for being a beauty specialist. You’re very active, and it’s hard for you to stay in one place performing meticulous tasks.”
Notice the difference? Constructive feedback is worth listening to and considering.
3) Showcasing Your Expertise. A thoughtful, professional response to even the most negative comment can highlight your expertise and credibility. This builds more trust with others who read the exchange than simply boasting about your strengths.
4. Address Deeper Fears
If you find negative comments particularly painful, dig deeper:
- Are you afraid of judgment from specific people? Whose opinion are you most concerned about? Often, it’s one or two family members, but not always.
- Do you feel perpetually "not good enough"? Not a good enough specialist, entrepreneur, or person? These recurring feelings often stem from past experiences.
Instead of focusing solely on external actions, work on your inner state.
To help with this, I’ve created a special journal for working through your internal states on your own.
Entrepreneur's Success Journal: 100 Days of the Transformation with Guided Worksheets: