In the heat of the moment when someone criticizes us, it’s easy to react and make things worse. Too often when I’ve received a critical comment at church I’ve gotten defensive or said something in return that I wish I could take back. Has that every happened to you? When that happens, what can we do in the moment? Years ago I learned a simple acronym that can help us respond appropriately to criticism. Here it is.

Respond to criticism with LEARN.

• L … listen: Simply hear the person out.
• E … empathize: Acknowledge how they feel.
• A … apologize: Even if you aren’t responsible for the problem, an apology for their experience may help ameliorate ill feelings.
• R … respond: Explain that you will attempt to address the issue if at all possible.
• N … notify:  Let those who can potentially fix the problem know about it.

The next time someone in your church brings you a complaint, LEARN from it instead of reacting to it.
What has helped you respond appropriately to criticism?
Related posts:

• Should you get closer to your critics?
• 3 Qualities Necessary to Learn from your Critics