Monday, August 1, 2022
I’ve had to coach people who are very successful but who were the victims or inappropriate comments and feedback from others. Someone comments on their photo on Facebook, or says that an article on LinkedIn was dreadful, or questions their approaches in a newsletter.
While feedback from trusted others is often useful (when it is calm and fact-based and intended to help) unsolicited feedback, especially from strangers, is not. These are people furious with themselves, irate at some failing of their own, who are redirecting their anger outward. They are bullies and they intend to create harm.
Fortunately, you can either ignore them or tell them to stuff it. That’s within your power. But don’t give them any heed, and don’t consider their venom seriously.
I advise never to assume someone else is damaged.
But these people are damaged.