My experience of constructive criticism on a packed bus

It was a cool, rainy day in Zurich and I was glad when I got on the streetcar and into the dry.

It was very crowded as usual at closing time, but at least I had a standing room. On the journey, I watched the people walking along the streets, daydreaming to myself.

Apparently I turned my upper body back and forth a little, because suddenly a soft voice with a pleasant Eastern European accent rang out: “Dear man, can you take a little more care with your backpack? You know, I’m suffering .”

I turned towards the voice. An older little man was sitting there, looking up with a gentle smile. Reflexively, without thinking, I apologized. I was very pleased with the quality of his criticism and said to myself. “He’s got it, constructive criticism. ” The most important things were there: Appreciation, subject matter, impact, desire.

Someone else would have said nothing, just suffered, or would have said something aggressive: “Hey, why don’t you take the car, you dubel!” But the old man does it perfectly, even without coming to my seminar. I smiled the whole way home and thought: “Thank you, old man, you’re my role model.”