The instinct to defend costs you more than the feedback does
When feedback lands unexpectedly, the fast instinct is to explain or defend. But a defensive first sentence, even a mild one, is what people remember, not the feedback itself.
Buy a beat before you respond
“Thanks for flagging that, let me think about how to address it.” Accepting the feedback before reacting to it separates the two moments, and gives you room to respond thoughtfully instead of reflexively.
Ask for specifics instead of guessing
“That is fair. Can you say more about what you had in mind?” This turns vague criticism into something actionable, and shows you are engaging with the feedback rather than just enduring it.