The Echo Chamber: Constructive Criticism in Business

As human beings, we tend to surround ourselves with people we care about and who care about us. While we may want and value the support of our friends, family, or peers, as entrepreneurs, we have to realize that this sort of support can provide a false sense of value when it comes to new business ideas or start-up strategies.

For example, you often hear new entrepreneurs say, “I asked all my friends, and they think X, Y, or Z is a great idea!” And it might be. But your friends and family could simply be echoing your own enthusiasm for your ideas—or expressing their belief and faith in you. This can create an echo chamber effect that can skew your own ideas about your small business or start-up.

On a similar note, as entrepreneurs with an understanding of the business world, we have to realize that not everyone has our credentials. So while Aunt Harriette might think your business concept is spectacular, she may not be the best judge of your business decisions. But because our friends and family mean well, we again find ourselves in an echo chamber, where those around us often gratify us by telling us exactly what we want to hear.

Now, the opposite can be true too. Sometimes great ideas are stymied by well-meaning but uneducated family members, friends who may not be forward thinking, or peers who may be afraid of change. These people may transfer their own biases onto your business decisions. In this way, you may find yourself screaming into another echo chamber, where all you hear are unsubstantiated criticisms that may or may not have value.

Having said that, every good entrepreneur realizes that constructive criticism can be invaluable, but the criticism must be constructive. It’s not enough to simply tear down an idea; that’s easy. But for criticism to be constructive, a person has to explain to you why that idea might not work. Constructive criticism aims to make your business better—not tear it down.

If you’re unsure when to accept criticism, there’s a rule of three regarding criticism.

1. If one person criticizes an aspect of your business, take it or leave it. In this case, you can decide whether that person understands where you want to go with your business, and you can make an informed decision about that particular criticism.
2. If you hear the same criticism twice, you need to sit up and listen. Now you should start to think about the value of the criticism you’re receiving. These sorts of criticisms may require unwanted work, but that work may pay off in the end.
3. If the same criticism comes back three or more times, then something is broken. These criticisms are important to improving your business. You may not agree with this feedback, but you have to be objective enough to face the criticism being given.

At the end of the day, though, an entrepreneur or small business owner has to find a strange balance between the support and the criticism they receive from those that surround them—without getting caught in an echo chamber. Because to be successful, an entrepreneur has to be flexible enough to take criticism in order to improve an idea but rigid enough to ignore criticism in order to bring something of value to market.

How do you view criticism? And how do you deal with criticism from your friends, family, or peers? Does one have more value than another? If so, why?