How does a person deal with criticism if they are the target of it?
Here’s what I do:
- I have developed selective hearing and simply ignore the comments of some people
- My staff runs interference for me
- I reserve the right to delete any e-mail – and often do
- I don’t reply by e-mail to critics – knowing that what I write will be forwarded to a great number of busybodies who have nothing better to do than to fixate on me
- I never enter into a debate by e-mail – even if I am tempted to do so. The debate never gets settled – it just goes on, and on, and on - plus I’m not interested in becoming someone’s on-line pen-pal!
- I do not answer anonymous e-mails – if someone wants to talk to me face-to-face, they will have to grow a backbone and come out into the open
- I refuse to meet with groups of people who have assembled together for my lynching – knowing they’ve already held secret meetings without me
- I do not attend meetings, even a one-on-one meeting, if I don’t know before hand what the meeting is going to be about
- I deal with offences Biblically (using Matthew 18:15-17), and will include my elders to confront malicious gossip and false accusations
- I am willing to answer questions and clarify positions – but will not waste undue time trying to get reluctant people on board
- I expect criticism since something of value is being accomplished at PCC