Accepting and Dealing With Criticism Confidently Let’s Get Critical: Accepting and Dealing With Criticism Confidently 1

Mike Christie Associate Commissioner, USA South Moderator: Sean King Sports Information Director, Washington & Jefferson College Panelists: Keri Alexander Luchowski Executive Director, North Coast Athletic Conference Mike Christie Associate Commissioner, USA South Cyrill Parham Director of Sports Information, Wesley College 2

Let's Get Critical Let’s spend a minute thinking about the last time we were criticized. Now, jot down the situation, and how you reacted. Did you: 1. Take it personally? 2. Respond aggressively or assertively? 3. Ask for specifics? We all need to be able to deal with criticism and the way it is presented, whether it’s constructive or destructive, and learning to recognize the difference between the two can help in dealing with any criticism you may receive. 3

Situation: Player of the Week Process and Selection Let's Get Critical Mike Christie Situation: Player of the Week Process and Selection Responding to those questioning process, selections. Handling criticizers differently. Being open to criticism. 4

Let's Get Critical Roundtable Challenge Discuss a decision you have made on your campus or in your office that has led or could lead to criticism. How have you handled or will you handle such criticism? Were you prepared in the event criticism came your way? Did the criticism create positive change? What has helped, what hasn’t helped in dealing with criticism? 5

Situation: Criticism from an External Source Let's Get Critical Cyrill Parham Situation: Criticism from an External Source A freelance game day worker contacts your supervisor about a scoreboard technical malfunction. In the email, the worker questions your ability to properly do your job and takes "jabs" at you regarding your commitment. The supervisor brings you into their office for a meeting to discuss the email. 6

Let's Get Critical Roundtable Challenge The Scoreboard Mishap How would you have handled the initial scoreboard situation? 2. How would you respond in the meeting with your supervisor? 7

Keri Alexander Luchowski Let's Get Critical Keri Alexander Luchowski Situation: Criticism for An Incident Outside of Your Control Successful veteran coach tweets his dissatisfaction about the conference awards process, questioning the integrity of the conference coaches. The tweet goes out the morning of the first day of the conference championship. Tweet gets picked up by a large-volume newsletter. 8

The Social Media Predicament Let's Get Critical Roundtable Challenge The Social Media Predicament How would you have approached or addressed the initial comment? How timely is your response to the tweet? Public vs. private response: Is one better or worse than the other? 9