Clarifying

After thanking, ask clarificatory questions to better understand what your colleague is criticizing and what they think you should do differently. Asking follow-up questions is beneficial for you because it allows you to gain a deeper understanding of the feedback. This will help you assess what actions to take to improve and whether you find the criticism convincing in the first place.

Here's an example of how such a conversation may unfold:

Harper's initially didn't do a good job giving feedback. Her feedback wasn't helpful because it was too general. By clarifying what Harper was criticizing, you made the feedback more valuable for you. Harper's responses provided you with actionable learnings for the future. Even in cases where the feedback is more thought out than in the case of Harper, you can often get better advice by asking follow-up questions.