Motivation Monday - How do you handle negative reviews?

Summary

In this insightful script, the speaker recounts their experience with receiving a negative review of their book, 'Thrive Journal', on Amazon. Initially disheartened by the critique, they reflect on the feedback, which criticized the book's simplistic nature and appearance. Embracing the criticism constructively, they revamped the book's format, enhancing its professionalism. The speaker emphasizes the importance of cognitive flexibility and adaptability when dealing with negative feedback, advocating for finding truth within criticism to foster personal and professional growth. This narrative serves as a testament to the power of resilience and the potential for improvement that lies within constructive criticism.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker created the Thrive Journal, a publication based on a research study involving 17 people over three weeks.
• 💥 The speaker received a one-star review on Amazon for the Thrive Journal, which initially felt like a gut punch.
• 🔍 The negative review critiqued the Thrive Journal for being simplistic, lacking substance, and resembling a children's coloring book.
• 🎨 The initial version of the Thrive Journal had formatting issues, as it was not created using Amazon KDP's pre-loaded format and was not professionally typeset.
• 💡 The speaker used the negative review as an opportunity to improve the Thrive Journal's presentation, making it look more professional with a glossy cover and darker text.
• 🤔 The speaker emphasizes the importance of managing one's mindset when faced with criticism and looking for any truth within the feedback to foster growth.
• 🌟 The speaker encourages finding a 'kernel of truth' in negative feedback as a means to improve and become more resilient.
• 🚫 It's acknowledged that not all negative or anonymous reviews may contain constructive criticism, but it's crucial to assess if there's any truth to learn from.
• 💌 The speaker shared the experience with students, highlighting the value of cognitive flexibility and adaptability in handling negative feedback.
• 🌱 The speaker's personal growth is evident, as they were able to shift from a defensive mindset to one of improvement and opportunity within a day.
• 💼 The example serves as a reminder to seek opportunities for improvement in feedback, whether it's from online reviews or professional settings.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial reaction to receiving a one-star review on Amazon for their book, 'Thrive Journal'?

The speaker initially felt gut-punched and was upset about the negative review, as it significantly impacted the book's overall rating.

What did the negative review on 'Thrive Journal' specifically mention as its shortcomings?

The review stated that the book was simplistic, lacked substance, and appeared like a children's coloring book.

How did the speaker's mindset change after receiving the negative review?

The speaker shifted from feeling upset and defensive to seeking any truth or constructive feedback within the review that could be used for improvement.

What action did the speaker take in response to the negative review?

The speaker used the feedback to republish the 'Thrive Journal' with a more professional look, including a glossy cover and improved text formatting.

What was the original intention behind publishing the 'Thrive Journal'?

The 'Thrive Journal' was published as a means to share the results of a research study where 17 people used the Thrive framework over three weeks, rather than for commercial promotion.

What was the speaker's role in the Forbes ranked DBA program?

The speaker is proud of their program and is involved in teaching students in management, guiding them to publish leadership mini-books on Amazon or create leadership signature talks.

What is the Thrive framework mentioned in the script?

The Thrive framework is a concept developed by the speaker, which was tested in a research study and is the basis for the content of the 'Thrive Journal'.

Why did the speaker decide not to use Amazon KDP's pre-loaded format for the initial publication of 'Thrive Journal'?

The speaker wanted to quickly publish the 'Thrive Journal' and did not pay for professional typesetting, opting for a draft that could be adjusted later.

What is the significance of the 'kernel of truth' mentioned by the speaker?

The 'kernel of truth' refers to any valid or constructive part of the negative feedback that can be used for personal or professional growth and improvement.

How does the speaker encourage others to deal with negative feedback or reviews?

The speaker encourages others to look for any nuggets of truth in negative feedback, to learn from them, and to use them as opportunities for growth and resilience.

What is the importance of cognitive flexibility and adaptability when receiving negative feedback, according to the speaker?

Cognitive flexibility and adaptability allow individuals to learn from negative feedback, become more resilient, and reduce the emotional impact of criticism.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Handling Negative Reviews: A Personal Experience

The speaker shares a personal experience of receiving a negative review on their book, the Thrive Journal, published on Amazon. Initially, the one-star review felt like a gut punch, but they decided to use it as an opportunity for growth. The review criticized the book's simplistic nature and lack of substance, comparing it to a children's coloring book. The speaker admits that they did not use Amazon KDP's pre-loaded format and did not pay for professional typesetting, which might have contributed to the book's unprofessional appearance. They took the feedback to heart, republishing the content with a more professional look, including a glossy cover and darker text. The speaker emphasizes the importance of finding truth in negative feedback and using it for self-improvement, reflecting on their own initial reaction of defensiveness and shifting to a mindset of learning and adaptation.

05:01

💡 Embracing Constructive Criticism for Personal Growth

Building on their personal story, the speaker discusses the value of embracing negative feedback and using it to become more resilient and cognitively flexible. They mention that had they received the review a few years earlier, they might have been more upset, but now they are able to shift their perspective and see the potential for improvement. The speaker encourages the audience to consider any recent negative feedback they've received and to look for any 'kernel of truth' that can be used for personal and leadership development. The message is to view criticism as an opportunity for growth rather than a setback, fostering a mindset that is open to learning and adapting to feedback.

Keywords

💡Negative Review

A 'negative review' is a critical assessment or critique that is unfavorable. In the video's context, it refers to the speaker's experience with receiving a one-star review on Amazon for their book, 'Thrive Journal'. The negative review is a pivotal point in the narrative, as it triggers a series of reflections on how to handle criticism constructively.

💡Leadership Lessons

Leadership lessons refer to the principles, insights, or guidance that can be learned from experiences and applied to lead effectively. The video's theme revolves around learning from a negative review, which the speaker uses as a metaphor for leadership growth. It illustrates how to transform a negative experience into a learning opportunity.

💡Thrive Journal

The 'Thrive Journal' is a book published by the speaker on Amazon, which is central to the video's storyline. It represents the work that received the negative review and serves as a catalyst for the speaker's introspection and subsequent actions to improve the book's presentation.

💡Amazon KDP

Amazon KDP, or Kindle Direct Publishing, is a platform used by authors to publish their eBooks and paperbacks. In the script, the speaker mentions using Amazon KDP to republish the 'Thrive Journal' with a more professional format and appearance, highlighting the importance of presentation in publishing.

💡Cognitive Flexibility

Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adapt one's thinking to new information or changing circumstances. The video emphasizes the importance of cognitive flexibility in dealing with negative feedback, as it enables individuals to learn and grow from criticism, as demonstrated by the speaker's response to the review.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties or to adjust easily to change. The speaker discusses how developing resilience can help individuals handle negative feedback without it having a significant emotional impact, showcasing personal growth and the ability to bounce back from adversity.

💡Feedback

Feedback in this context refers to the responses or evaluations given by others, which can be positive or negative. The video script discusses the importance of seeking and utilizing feedback, even when it is negative, as a means for personal and professional development.

💡Professionalism

Professionalism denotes the quality of being professional, which includes competence, ethics, and presentation. The speaker reflects on the perceived lack of professionalism in the initial version of the 'Thrive Journal' and takes steps to enhance its presentation, demonstrating a commitment to professionalism.

💡Growth

Growth, in the context of the video, refers to personal development and improvement. The speaker uses the negative review as an opportunity for growth, by identifying areas for improvement in the 'Thrive Journal' and taking action to enhance its quality.

💡Research Study

A research study is an investigation or series of investigations aimed at discovering new knowledge or understanding a phenomenon. The 'Thrive Journal' is based on a research study conducted by the speaker, which adds credibility to the book's content and is a point of contention in the negative review.

💡Neurology

Neurology is the scientific study of the nervous system, including the brain. The speaker mentions including 'Neuroscience' in the 'Thrive Journal', indicating that the book is not only based on research but also incorporates scientific principles related to the functioning of the brain.

Highlights

Handling a negative review from a colleague, peer, supervisor, or online can be a valuable leadership lesson.

The speaker's personal experience with receiving a one-star review on Amazon for their book 'Thrive Journal'.

The initial emotional impact of receiving a negative review and the importance of managing one's mindset.

The critique that the 'Thrive Journal' was simplistic and lacked substance, resembling a children's coloring book.

The acknowledgment that the initial version of the book may not have been presented professionally.

The decision to republish the 'Thrive Journal' with a more professional format and appearance.

The transformation of the book's cover from matte to glossy to improve its professional appearance.

The importance of looking for truth within negative feedback to drive personal growth and improvement.

The speaker's shift from a defensive mindset to seeking constructive criticism in the review.

The concept of cognitive flexibility and adaptability in dealing with negative feedback.

The speaker's growth in resilience and emotional stability when facing negative reviews.

The idea that not all negative reviews may contain truth, and discerning which ones are valuable.

The encouragement to find a 'nugget of truth' in negative feedback to improve one's life and leadership.

The speaker's pride in their Forbes-ranked DBA program and its focus on leadership development.

The initiative of current students in management to publish leadership mini-books or create signature talks.

The use of the Thrive framework in a research study involving 17 participants over three weeks.

The speaker's realization that the Thrive Journal's initial format did not reflect its research-based substance.

Transcripts

all right so how do you handle a bad

review a negative review whether it's a

colleague a peer a supervisor an annual

Job review or an online review well

recently I had this happen to me and I

wanted to share this experience because

I think it has so many great leadership

lessons for life so many of you know I

created the Thrive Journal right and

that's one of the books that I have

published on Amazon and in our

incredible DBA program our number one

Forbes ranked DBA program yes I'm going

to always say that I'm so proud of our

program our current students in

management 765 that's my class are

either publishing a leadership mini book

on Amazon or they're creating a Walsh X

leadership signature talk kind of like

the tedex talks and as we were talking

about publishing their mini book I was

showing them the different steps I use

with Thrive and I went on the Amazon

site and I noticed I had a OnStar review

not only did I have a one-star review

but the person actually wrote a nice

little note there that explained the

onear review and I have to be honest at

first it was like a gut punch cuz I

didn't do a lot of promotion for the

Thrive Journal this was more a

publication of a research uh study that

I had done where we had 17 people use

the Thrive framework over three weeks

and we measured statistical significance

with an instrument around Locust of

control I share all that because when I

share with you the review and kind of

what the feedback was it'll it'll just

be interesting but anyway so I didn't do

a big promotion of saying hey can you

read this can you write a review if you

like it can you do all these things I

just really wanted to get the research

and the journal out there that is on me

I just want to mention I'm not

justifying why I didn't that's on me so

when I did get a bad review it totally

tanked the reviews and it was really

hard to see but I read what it said and

you know it took me about a day and then

I noticed I shifted I had to really

manage my mind the review said it's very

simplistic it doesn't lack it lacks

substance and it looks like a coloring

book or a kids coloring book okay so

this is the version that the person

probably bought this was the original

version and you know in the beginning

there is some science there's some

Neuroscience that explains the Thrive

framework but then here's probably what

they were talking about because you can

kind of see these little flecks at the

top why are they there well when I

published the Thrive Journal I didn't

use an Amazon KDP pre-loaded format

which they have available now in fact we

found that out when my students are

loading their mini books into a template

and I didn't pay to get this typ seted I

did for my other books Locus and chief

energy officer so I just wanted to get

this up there and you know the

entrepreneur and me is like just get a

draft out there you can always adjust

well that's great and I did and I sold

copies I gave copies away all the

proceeds go to Walsh College I always

say that and I did get this out there

but I also realized is it my very best

creation as far as how it looks no and

the reviewer did have a point so I

actually use that as an opportunity to

take the content of the Thrive journal

and to republish the content which you

can do in Amazon KDP using an

established framework and format that

they had so it looks a lot more

professional in this framework it looks

a lot more more like a book and I

actually like the text it's a lot darker

it wasn't that weird gray coloring and I

also added a glossy cover so I had the

matte cover before and I made it glossy

and I think I kind of like this right

glossy glossy so anyway I'm sharing this

because for one day I really sued about

this review I was in my head who is this

person how dare they leave me this

review it's kind of anonymous even

though they had initials and everybody's

going to go to the review now and look

but I I'm so grateful that they did

because they helped me make a shift in

my mind they helped me deal with what

does it feel like to get a bad review

and to look for is there any gift within

that review is there any kernel of truth

that I can use to change and grow and

improve and there was and so even though

I don't necessarily agree that I think

it looks like a kids coloring book but

maybe it does I don't know and I don't

think that it lacks substance because it

was based on a study and a research

project I did I do believe that it

didn't look as professional as it could

which could have lent itself to someone

saying you know what this doesn't really

look like a professional published book

so I changed it I upgraded it right how

many times in life do we get a review

maybe it's anonymous online because with

the online platforms now people can go

on and say whatever they want or how

many times do we get feedback from

people or colleagues or through the grap

Vine and it's so easy for us to dismiss

it or to maybe say negative things about

the person giving it I don't even know

this person they're probably wonderful

person right and I noticed that when I

did that I was in the wrong type of

energy I was in the justification energy

the blame energy the external locus

energy how ironic and when I shifted my

mind to say what could I actually learn

from this and is there a kernel is there

a nugget in there that's actual truth

sometimes there's not I know that some

of you might be listening and saying

well Susie no that doesn't work for all

negative or Anonymous reviews sometimes

they're just really mean-spirited and

they don't have any truth to them that

may be in this case there was and I was

able to learn and I shared that example

with my students who are very nice and

generous because they were so supportive

but I also shared it because I think the

more cognitively flexible and adaptable

we can become when we get negative

feedback the greater we can learn from

it we become more resilient so it

doesn't emotionally impact us like if I

had gotten this review a couple years

ago I probably would have been a lot

more upset than I was now because I've

worked through some of that right and

even now it took me about a day and then

once I shift it I was so excited because

I'm like this is an even better version

I love the cover I love the layout I

love the framework now it can help even

more people and it can look even more

professional out in the world so as you

go into your week think about if you

have received feedback recently that's

been less than Stellar or if you know

that that will happen or as it happens

to you this week keep in mind that is

there a nugget is there a tiny kernel of

truth that you can take so that you can

improve your life and your leadership