I’m self-critical and now they say it’s a good thing?!

We’ve all heard the remark, “You are your own worst critic.” It’s often directed at nitpickers and perfectionists. But if you’re striving for success, being self-critical can be a good thing, so says a major headhunter.

Krisi Rossi O’Donnell, chief recruiting officer at Chicago-based recruiting firm LaSalle Network, says being self-critical can actually help someone achieve their goals. Inc.com contributor Mindy Zetlin draws on O’Donnell’s observations in a recent post:

– You’re always getting better. You’re not happy with your current situation or yourself, so you are continually working on ways to improve.
– You listen to others. Because you always want to improve, O’Donnell explains, you constantly seek feedback and hear other people’s suggestions.
– You’re self-aware. You know what areas of your life need improvement.
– Your ego never runs away with you. Always “questioning your processes keeps you from developing an ego,” O’Donnell says.

Zetlin summarizes a few more of O’Donnell’s points here, and she pulled out one example that I particularly liked.

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