One of the major life lessons I’ve learnt on this journey of freelance work is to make friends with feedback.
Feedback, particularly the “constructive criticism” variety, often feels personal no matter how it is intended. When you are your own brand and all of your work comes directly from your own brain, fielding negative opinions about it can be difficult.
I am certainly no stranger to receiving notes, good and bad! These are some of the things I have come to accept over the past few years.
You aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.
This one’s obvious. I understood it personally before I understood it professionally. Some people you just don’t get along with on a friendship level, and that’s OK. Being friendly is great, but even the most outgoing and amiable person won’t connect deeply—or even at all—with everyone else. In my personal life, I can accept this and still treat everyone with respect whether or not we are destined to be good friends.
The same applies to work, but coming to terms with that is another learning curve. Not every client is looking for what I can offer. Even the ones who are may not like something about the way I work or the finished result. Determining that you are not that person’s cup of (professional) tea and bowing out gracefully early on saves both your time and theirs.
It’s not personal.
I can almost guarantee that no client is criticising you as a personal attack. Their feedback is a sign that you are not on the same page professionally. Do your best to avoid being defensive; reply openly and honestly to try to come to a solution.
When your business is just you and nothing else, it can be tricky not to take any criticism—constructive or otherwise—personally. There’s nowhere to hide. I have found it best to read the feedback, wait a while to gather my thoughts, and write back when I am calm.
It’s free education.
Some of my clients know nothing about copywriting, web content, or digital media in general. That’s why they hire me! On the other hand, I have worked with some incredibly talented content creators, writers, marketing gurus, and SEO specialists during my stints contracting for various agencies. They know their stuff.
While receiving (sometimes extensive) notes from someone who is an expert in the field can be intimidating, it is also extremely valuable. I’m getting the type of guidance and learning that many people pay for! When I look back on how my writing has changed and improved throughout the years of employment and freelancing, it’s obvious that it’s due to the incredible professionals I’ve worked with and for. Try to view feedback as an opportunity for education. Taken on board, it can make you better at what you do.
I’m not sure I’ll ever be thrilled to receive constructive criticism on a piece of writing. But I’ve also come to accept that it is going to happen just about every time I send one off. My clients and I do not share a brain or read each other’s minds, so clarifications and back-and-forth are bound to happen.
I’d encourage all creatives—heck, all people—to make friends with feedback! Whether good or bad, it’s putting you onto the same page as your client in the short term, and teaching you valuable lessons in the long term.
Header image by Vlad Hilitanu via Unsplash.