Giving Criticism...
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- mg33
How many of you loathe giving criticism to people when they've asked you to improve or edit something they've done?
I'm in the process of editing some documents for someone where the general idea is there, it just needs to be refined and tightened up a bit. Yet it just becomes a battle of semantics as it's impossible to make them realize that I'm the one considered the expert at this, and my changes and edits are only improvements so that the final product is the best it can be.
I just hate these situations... it turns into something where they feel I'm making it too "me" when in reality I'm taking something mediocre at best and making it live up to our expectations.
This isn't graphics or anything, just article editing. Even something as obvious as adding headings to define content is looked upon with a "Why did you put that there?"
Can you relate? Any stories?
- r_mutt0
you obviously have no spine
- spendogg0
my answer is always "please make it suck less"
- Ampersanderson0
I heard of a guy at an agency who does work motion work for films. The client usually requests only that they "not make it better than the movie"
- k0na_an0k0
i try to give any negative response a positive response.
if you just drill them with the negatives they'll get pissed and won't listen, but if you also give positives, or, ways to improve, they listen.
ie.
i like what you've done here, but i think you could build on it by doing xyz, push it more and let me see it again.
- PonyBoy0
mg33, mai pal!!!!
Dude... your story is as old as the oceans and the massive loch-ness style monsters that swim in it...
... the only advice I have is this: Remember that people who don't share your passion... often don't really give a shit... because it's 'their' project and it's going to have 'their' name on it so-to-speak...
:(
... therefore... I've found that you need to read each project (and the people fucking it up) and dish out the appropriate amount of 'passion' - sometimes you don't have to have ANY. :)
Spinning your wheels over something you really have no control over... ... still keeps you stationary. :)
Just breathe... do what you can to get the project 'right' and remember you get to go home and do something you enjoy later... this is only work. :)
- Ampersanderson0
But I hear you, mg. Someone i worked with once, a writer, would get offended when myself or the creative director would edit the work that person created.
But it's the nature of the game; ideas need fleshing out. Without refining, there is only mediocrity to be had. And it sounds like you'd rather the mediocrity evolve into something quality. So don't feel too bad.
Then again, alot of how a person perceives your changes could simply be in how you handle the situation. Attitude is everything.
Good luck
- mg330
Good responses Pony and Ampersanderson.
The particular thing I'm working on is to be read BY attorneys - very short attention span so it's got to hit a home run on the first read, hell, within the first paragraph.
At this point, meeting the deadline for the person who wrote it is taking priority over it being really tight and perfect.
And I can't stand when someone thinks you're injecting too much of your style into edits... on the contrary I'm doing what I hope anyone would do. They probably thought I was just going to check for grammar and spelling and it was full of run-ons and just generally confusing with no organization to it.
- Arvizu0
I read somewhere about art directors (and I think it applies here too) that as the director—you can't be afraid to annoy the hell out of anyone if it ensures the best possible work. At the end of the day, If you're the one responsible for the final product, you can't worry about other peoples egos. If they are truly confident in their own skills, they will welcome the criticism—if they don't, they won't be around too long anyway... good luck(!)
- -sputnik-0
i never hesitate if the person asking genuinely wants a critique, and i always try to make it constructive and never condescending
- mg330
Wow, I'm starting to realize that my error was in holding a switchblade in my quivering, tensed left hand.
- Jaline0
what k0na said.
there should be a balance.
- Jaline0
But definitely don't be afraid. Proceed with some caution on how you word things, but come across clearly.
- ********0
This is my opinion and a rant:
I have a client whose negatives comments are: "It's horrible" "Terrible", etc. I don't have a problem with people telling me that as long as they tell me why. This fucker never tells me why, he has no arguments to back up his comments and expects me to correct my work on two words as feedback.
So, if you're going to critic someone's work, state your opinion and the reasons backing it up.
- mg330
Wow - the person I've done this for and I just had a conversation, where they said thanks for my work on it, but said...
"It's just surprising - you spent more time editing it than I spent working on it in the first place."
Eh, touche?