Critique Club

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Welcome to Week 19 of TechExec - the newsletter that turbocharges your growth to become a Tech Executive!

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As always, we are sharing a new set of BLTs this week

• 💼 B - a Business concept / theory / story

• 💝 L - a lifestyle advice

• 🤖 T - a Tech explainer

Here is the schedule:

Monday —>💼 B - a Business concept / theory / story

Wednesday —> 💝 L - a lifestyle advice

Friday —> 🤖 T - a Tech explainer

This week we covered Carbon Credits on Monday, and we will cover Quantum Computing on Friday.

Today’s lifestyle advice is on starting or joining a Critique Club!

💼 L - Critique Club

Last week, I was talking to Jess, one of my entrepreneur friends. She was coming from her bi-weekly “Critique Club” meeting. I was obviously intrigued and asked her about her little club. Well, it is exactly what it sounds like. A critique club is a group of individuals who meet regularly to give and receive constructive criticism on their work, ideas, or performances. It provides a safe environment for you to share your ideas, get feedback, and improve. Interesting, right?

But why would anyone need a critique club? That was my next question to Jess. Her response was shocking! It turns out, our loved ones are not our best critics! And that is for a good reason, because we find criticism from our friends and families vexing. At the same time, we don’t find their appreciation genuine either. To solve this problem, we can find like-minded individuals who can be candid in their criticism, and yet we don’t take it personally. And that is how a Critique Club works!

Here's how incorporating a critique club can fuel your growth as both a person and a professional. Firstly, being part of a critique club allows you to develop your ability to give and receive constructive feedback. This is an essential skill in both personal and professional life. Giving feedback requires tact, empathy, and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively. Receiving feedback, on the other hand, requires openness, humility, and the ability to accept criticism without taking it personally. Both of these skills can be honed within the supportive environment of a critique club.

Secondly, a critique club exposes you to diverse perspectives and ideas. This broadens your outlook, enhances your understanding of different viewpoints, and hones your problem-solving skills. In a professional setting, this ability to understand and incorporate diverse perspectives can be crucial to innovation and effective decision-making.

Thirdly, participating in a critique club helps you develop resilience and perseverance. Criticism, even when constructive, can be tough to handle. However, regular exposure to it in a critique club can help you build resilience and the ability to bounce back from setbacks. This resilience is crucial not just in your professional life, where projects may not always go as planned, but also in your personal life where you may face various challenges.

Furthermore, a critique club offers an opportunity for networking. You get to meet people from different walks of life, professions, or fields of interest. These connections could open doors to new opportunities, collaborations, or learning experiences that could boost your personal and professional growth.

Lastly, through consistent participation in critique club activities, you can develop skills like public speaking, persuasive communication, active listening, critical thinking, and conflict resolution. These are all invaluable skills that can significantly contribute to your success in any professional setting.

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Until next time!

Gaurav