Interesting New York Times article on how we tend to remember rejections and criticism much longer than praise. Absolutely true! Most underproductivity is catalyzed by toxic rejections that the person retains years, and even decades, later.

Excerpts:

“The human brain handles negative and positive input differently, psychologists say, which is why memories of unpleasant experiences seem indelible…”

“If managers or bosses know this, then they should be acutely aware of the impact they have when they fail to recognize the importance to workers of making progress on meaningful work, criticize, take credit for their employees’ work, pass on negative information from on top without filtering and don’t listen when employees try to express grievances.”

Of course, many bosses/teachers/mentors/etc. who deliver harsh criticism are are all too likely to blame the recipients of their harshness for the consequent underproductivity.

Link