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In our society, criticism can play a role in changing or improving an organization in various ways, as disapproval is expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings.
If we study or work with other people as a team or group, I think it is undeniably important that we listen carefully to other people's opinions. Sometimes, these opinions come in the form of criticism, which is not always welcomed by everyone.
But, criticism can be a key to success as an idea or proposal usually is not perfect or impeccable.
What about me? Am I a student inclined to be open-minded in accepting others' criticism at school or at home? I would like to say I am rather receptive and try my best to listen to anybody's advice or criticism.
I think the reasons why I am a person that can accept criticism comes in several ways.
Firstly, criticism in my view usually gives an opportunity to correct or straighten things out before it is too late.
There is an old saying that goes, "Bitter to the mouth, better to your health." It shows us how we feel bad about being criticized.
We are afraid that our efforts in a project or at work result in nothing but harsh criticism and others finding faults with us.
But, we should not think criticism is only negative, rather acknowledge it when merited as sound advice to evaluate our performance.
Secondly, criticism points out our weakness in thoughts or actions and sometimes tends to be expressed a little too aggressively by the people around us. Some of us may react emotionally while denying the point being made.
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As a positive person who can accept criticism, I recommend that you try more to make good use of others' criticism.
Thirdly, to avoid criticism and only listen to agreeable or flattering words will be detrimental to your progress in any organization. When we do something meaningful in an organization, we can get praised by our fellow members. But, if this cycle keeps repeating itself over certain period of time, we can be caught in the mire of vanity.
I think vanity is a dangerous factor for our progress because we are apt to linger at the same level rather than seeking new and fresh ideas to innovate and reform.
If we ignore others' sincere advice and close our ears to their criticism, we will lose valuable opportunities that could lead to the path of success.
For instance, the last king of the Baekje Kingdom in ancient Korea was an accomplished leader of his kingdom in his first few years of his reign.
However, successive victories in territorial wars against other neighboring countries made him overly proud.
Later, even when his kingdom was on the verge of collapse, he disregarded critical advice from his most faithful subjects and that eventually made its rival conquer the ill-fated kingdom.
Back to the modern era, it is unlikely for a man of self-assertion to survive in the business world. We should be more open-minded to listen to others' criticism for realizing "creative destruction" to shake up the status-quo in everything we're related with.
I still believe the late Steve Jobs, a guru in the IT industry worldwide, was not always smug but was one of greatest CEOs in the world, especially when he said, "Think different," which tells us we need to be generous in thinking creatively and in accepting others' criticism. Thus, he liked to say, "Good artists copy, great artists steal."
Those who are not acceptable of others' criticism cannot be successful in what they're doing. Criticism, although bitter at first, becomes accurate and unbiased guidance to success, only if we manage and utilize it well.
In conclusion, I remember some words of a song sung by a famous American signer, "Ignore all the hatred and criticism, live for what you create, and die protecting it."
But, I think we should not only ignore all the criticism but also live for what you create in others' reasonable criticism no matter how it is against us.
If so, Korea, based on a democracy that holds two cheers to permit criticism and admit variety, will be a better country for all of us, which is ultimately free from today's bad crimes and regrettable accidents.
The writer is a second-year student at Gwacheon Foreign Language High School in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province.
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