What’s worse: When people criticize your skills or when they simply ignore your inquiries altogether?

Both can be disappointing, especially given the context. But neither are burdens that you can’t get past. In fact, you can use those setbacks to improve your approach.

We have thoughts on both topics in today’s Social Media Roundup:

Get More Email Responses

Great Article! Six Tips for Writing Emails by @JameeWilliams in @NaylorLLC's #Association Adviser. http://t.co/tTpH6pDPSP #assnchat

— Alexandra Rodriguez (@alexnrodriguez) May 17, 2013

Finding your business emails hitting the bottom of the inbox way too often? Jamie Williams of Naylor LLC understands—because it’s hard to make an impression these days. “How do we stand out in an email world where 8 out of 10 emails are spam? How can we get the important emails delivered, read, and responded to? Today, an email is almost as important as a phone call,” she notes. Fortunately Naylor has a few good ideas to help you get more email responses, some of which are obvious—a relevant subject line goes a long way—but others are simply practical: “Sometimes a colleague doesn’t respond to an email quickly because they don’t have time to dissect the information within. By offering suggestions or options, you can help him or her make a decision.” Check out more of her tips over this way. (ht @alexnrodriguez)

Grow Through Criticism

https://twitter.com/billwalker7/status/335072092225679362

Let’s face it, nobody likes to hear their skills or creations criticized by a third party, especially when it’s not particularly soft. But according to Spark Consulting LLC’s Elizabeth Weaver Engel, CAE, it’s a necessary part of what makes us better at leading. “Usually, responding to criticism is something we do less well early in life and our careers, and, hopefully, is something we learn to do better as we mature as people and professionals,” she notes. That sort of growth process doesn’t happen overnight, but Engel offers up a combination of personal anecdotes and actionable ideas to help ensure that criticism makes you a stronger leader—not a weaker one. (ht @billwalker7)

So what’s the most useful piece of criticism you’ve ever received—and how long did it take to sink in? Give us some insight into your growth process in the comments.

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