Have you noticed that those who are over-critical have a way of silencing you. Why share your ideas, if you know that an individual is simply going to tear you apart. Those of us who tend to be hyper-critical or overly-analytical run the risk of silencing others since we tend to focus on the details and look for ways to be better sometimes to a fault. Educators like this have to be careful that they are not overly critical, but instead purposefully critical noting specific ares for betterment and then guiding students in that direction with adequate, scaffolded support.
The most gifted communicators amongst us, know when to critique and how to do it with positivity, a sense of humor, and right support. I have marveled at how people like this do that. For example, many of these talented critics effectively use questioning. Rather than say, for example, "You use too many exclamation points?" the good critic might ask, I noticed that you use many exclamation points, how do you decide when and where to use those? That opens up the conversation rather than closing the door to positive critique and support.
As I think of this topic, I think of my conversations with my own parents and those conversations with my own children. Do I say, "Don't do that?" or do I ask, "Why do you think this is the best way to strategize around that project, event, or task?" As many seasoned and successful communicators know, how we say things matter a lot.
I've learned this lesson time and again in life, but I haven't spent a lot of time thinking deeply about it. Now as I think about the topic, I recognize the many thoughtful ways we can begin tough conversations--we can wade into the water of these conversations rather than do a belly flob or piercing dive. It can be a series of approximations, incremental steps towards betterment rather than a nose dive.
Too much criticism silences us, and to silence those around us is not positive for our relationships or collaboration--we all need a bit of critique now and then as that helps us to be our best selves, but how we relay critique is critical to this process.