Use Straw Man Tactics to Ease the Blow When Criticizing
In an argument, the straw man tactic is used to create a bad impression of your opponent’s opinion and attack him to undermine him. This is a pretty cheesy way to argue. However, if you are trying to give constructive criticism, you can use it to avoid resentment.
As business blog Entrepreneur points out, when someone is criticized, they may end up feeling emotionally threatened or defensive. Even if your advice is helpful (or you are the boss who needs to provide this kind of feedback), emotion can complicate a useful discussion. Instead of directing criticism towards the person himself, set up the straw man’s target:
If someone feels personally threatened by what you say, his or her defenses will be heightened and he or she will not be able to internalize your criticism. Try to give criticism through a personal anecdote or an inspiring story about someone famous who has gone through the same thing. It is much easier to swallow when we are not talking about “our” and “our” mistakes.
As an example, let’s say you have a friend who wants to start a side business but doesn’t have a business plan. Instead of saying, “You won’t get anywhere unless you have a business plan,” you can convey the same message by saying, “The most successful people I know who started a side business have a business plan. … Maybe you could start there? “
Also keep in mind that this method is necessarily less confrontational. Using this tactic to avoid a tough conversation in which you need to be direct may not be the best idea. Try not to use it lest you say, “Hey, you were a jerk last night.” However, for light criticism that doesn’t have to be personal, it can be very helpful.
5 Steps to Constructive Criticism | Businessman