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4 Tips for Giving and Accepting Corrections


Giving and accepting correction is one thing we find difficult to do. If asked to raise your hands if you like being told you're wrong all the time, many of us if not all of us will have our hands down.

In as much as giving and accepting correction is a difficult task for us, it is very important and makes a great contribution to our growth, personal development and transformation. Whether its at home, church, workplace, marriage or any relationship, accepting correction is a crucial matter as much as giving it is. 

In order to give correction, there are things we always have to consider especially if we are correcting to effect a change. Also, giving and accepting correction is an indicator of how wise we are.
"Listen to advice and accept correction, and in the end you will be wise..." Proverbs 19:20.

"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is foolish" Proverbs 12:1.

"Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning" Proverbs 9:9.

God also uses correction to build us and make us better individuals. So any correction that leaves us worse than we were is not a godly and good correction because they are not meant to bring us down.
"All scriptures is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" 2 Timothy 3:16.
Sometimes, we are corrected by God and this is a sign that He loves us and is interested in our growth.
"Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline..." Revelations 3:19.
Now to effectively correct someone, you have to always consider;

1) How you give the correction:
Corrections are to be given in love and this is done when you have the intention of helping someone out of a mistake they have made and not just when your aim I to point out that you are right and they are wrong. Demeaning a person or being sarcastic while correcting  a person is not correction done in love. So when next you feel the need to correct, exam in your intentions for wanting to correct.

2) The right place and opportunity: 
When someone does something in error, it is good practice to call them aside and gently correct them. Don't make your correction in front of a group of people especially in the presence of younger ones. Especially in homes, don't correct an older child before a younger child. It is disrespectful and indirectly the younger ones are learning from you how to talk to the person you're trying to correct. 

Also always find the right opportunity to correct a person for an error done. For instance, when someone does something wrong, you keep a record of it and then wait for them to err again so you could refer back to the previous wrong. In my opinion, that is not fair and keeping record of wrong is not a show of love. Find the most appropriate opportunity to make a correction and not when in an entirely different scenario.

3) Be informed and have a full grasp of the situation: 
Most times, we are too quick to air our views on a matter and rebuke someone without fully understanding what really happened. We also do not put ourselves in the position of the person we want to correct. So be adequately informed and clarified of a wrong done and correct in a manner as someone who may not have the full detail. Always remember that there is a very thin line between correcting and judging.

4) Be sure you are right:
It is strange how we can easily identify the error other people have made but not our own. This is called hypocrisy and as such, we should carefully consider ourselves and our lives before correcting others.

In addition, there is no shame in needing correction when you do something wrong and being corrected does not mean you are a failure. It is rather an indication of growth. 

Accepting correction is often hard because;
a) it is delivered in a completely unpleasant manner and context.
b) it is given by a hypocrite.
c) we love our ego which feels threatened when we are being corrected.

However to accept correction more easily;

1) Consider what you are being corrected for putting aside your feelings. Remove yourself from the situation and imagine you're correcting someone else.

2) Be humble.
Don't reject correction due to pride. Humility helps you avoid being proud or discouraged. Accepting correction humbly is a sign that you are a more matured adult.

3) Be appreciative.
The person correcting you may just be giving you their own idea of a matter. However, thank them because it means they are looking out for your best interest.

4) Correction is a gift. A particular correction may not be relevant to you. But your correction maybe a provision for someone else on another day. 
May God help us to give and accept correction!

How do you give and respond to correction and what other tips would you want to add?
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