HM’s Food & Wine Magazine

As I stood at Merriam Point, located on the westerly rim of the crater, I was taken aback by the magnificence of the view.  From my vantage point I could see Devil’s Backbone, Phantom Ship Overlook, Pumice Castle, Skell Head and Wizard Island.
There are few places in the world that command overwhelming awe from observers, but Crater Lake certainly does.  It is a caldera lake positioned in the south central region of Oregon, located in the Northwest U.S.  The lake is famous for its deep rich blue color and water clarity.  The caldera (a Spanish term for caldron) is some four thousand feet deep. The lake is 5 by 6 miles across with an average depth of 1,148 feet. Its deepest point has been measured at 1,949 feet deep though as with any lake its depth fluctuates with the climate.  The lake was formed around 7,700 BC by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama. The crater is surrounded by a twenty-mile circle of cliffs, tinted in subtle shades and fringed with pine, hemlock, and fir trees.
Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States, the second deepest lake in North America and the ninth deepest lake in the world.  The caldera rim of Crater Lake ranges in elevation from 7,000 to 8,000 feet.
If you are adventurous you can walk the Cleetwood Trail to the boat tour landing.  From this point you board a small craft (sits 20 to 30 people) to begin an amazing water tour of the crater.  While on board I heard the captain giving constructive criticism to his first-mate on how to properly steer the vessel which would ensure the safety of their passengers.  The captain spoke in such a positive tone that it got me to thinking about how all of us communicate to one another.
From time to time we find ourselves in a position of criticizing the actions of others, where giving constructive criticism to another is warranted.   The question is, “How do we handle the situation in order to achieve our desired goals and expectations without offending those we are dealing with?”  ANSWER: One must handle such an event delicately. The purpose of criticizing is not to lower a person’s morale or self-esteem but to concentrate on developing the individual.
Always criticize actions and behaviors, not people. Evade comments such as “You have.., You are.., You’ve done…” Avoid making the criticism personal. Concentrate on turning the discussion into a winning situation for all the parties involved. Anticipate a rebuttal and be prepared to discuss. Always provide specific examples for the behavior or actions that are being criticized. Be firm, fair and to the point.  Seek comments from the individual as to how they can change things to improve the situation.  Compliment their thinking as much as possible.

When giving criticism:

Control your tone of voice, rate of speech and pitch, and be mindful of your facial expressions and body language. Actions do speak louder than words.

Set the tone of the discussion by establishing a positive atmosphere. For example, begin with an opening phrase such as, “You’re a good worker however let me show you how you can achieve a higher performance rating by changing some work behaviors.”

Think of the words you are going to use when criticizing. How would you feel if someone said them to you? Be selective.

Practice what you are going to say before you actually say it. Let the flow be natural and honest. Make note of your tone of voice.

Keep your emotions and anger under check. There is no need to ever go off half-cocked.

Never criticize in public, but always praise in public. >>Read More