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When someone criticizes our work a. or, our person â€" we can fly off the handle and put up stony walls of defensiveness. Or we can react in a healthy and adult manner, turning the encounter to our own benefit. *Put yourself in the place of the person criticizing you. If you had that per- son’s job or executive position, would you react the same? *Don’t whine. (“But I didn’t know, I didn't mean it, why didn't you tell me. . .") No one likes to be with a whiner. *If you feel your stress level rising. stop talking immediately. Give yourself time to think. Tell them you'll get back to them on this. Don't let yourself explode. because that will only paint you in a worse light. ’Disarm your critic and turn the . ituation into a lean'ling experience by sking haw you might have done etter. ‘Focus on following their suggestions 0 upgrade your performance. Even if you think they’re unreasonable, chances are they have a good point. It took guts for them to confront you â€" so pay attention. ‘lf you’re convinced criticism is unfounded, discuss it with the person, either right then or later (when all great rebuttals occur to us). Get it out in the open or you'll harbor resentment that is bound to pop up somewhere else. ‘Above all, be honest with yourself. Admit you have faults â€" that doesn't mean people hate you. Like everyone else, you have things to learn. That’s what life is all about. I: rigid Pyke. . . onn'nued from p. 4 eclining memberships. There have een 800 new members since October, at likewise people leave farming or ie to offset the growth. “On the ther hand, maintaining a volunteer : embership the size that we do is othing to be scorned atz’ added rs. Pyke. A combined effort of the OFA and ral women’s groups is something rs. Pyke is very interested in. “l ally don‘t know where the WI stand some issues and how overtly polit- -' l they are, but I’m all ears,” said 1 rs. Pyke. She suggested several areas here joint action could be taken by e OFA and rural women’s organiza- ns. One of them is the pursuit of equate rural day-care in Ontario. other is spreading the word about . icultural marketing issues. “Woâ€" " are very astute on marketing uest’ Mrs. Pyke said. She feels it very important to disseminate the rrect information about the pros d cons of supply management. e upcoming provincial election ‘ a third suggested area of consoli- dated effort. “Women are key to riding associations and the local political process. If they could estab- lish a network to get agricultural issues on the agenda during this next election, it would be very worthwhile," explained Mrs. Pyke "[ would not presume that any rural women’s groups would want to participate in any joint efforts. They may regard these ideas as not within their mandate. They are just ideas," Mrs. Pyke emphasized. Mrs. Pyke was elected at the OFA annual meeting and confe’rence in November. She plans to stand for election again this November. She said the one thing she has learned during her presidency so far. is im- proved communications skills. “I deal with a lot of complaints and when i talk to people they want to give me the deluxe version, which includes every detail. What i have to do is try to reach the lowest common denomi- nator. What is the key?" lfshe can't find the key, a lot of duplicated effort is often exerted and with her busy schedule, that’s just not possible. Reprinted with permission of Execu- live Communications. 27“! Dryden Drive. Madison. WI. 53704-3006. Mrs. Pyke is able to spend most weekends with her husband, Bob and her three teenage children on their 1,200 acre dairy farm on Wolfe Island. The farm is well»manugcd and she feels very fortunate to haw her brother- in-law and sister-in-law as partners on the farm. During the week she is either travelling around the prm incc or at the OFA‘s head office in Toronto. Mrs. Pyke doesn‘t belong to any other organizations. except the United Church of Wolfe island. “I picked the OFA for maximum impact. It‘s where i want to be," she said. Quiz answers I. Dr, Emily Smm’ m lllt’ t'i'ur ML”. 2. l875 3. Ki] C olemun ('{ll'f'l'l'fl 4hr Spcmlrlr-.~lnwrrt'un Mir for a Toronlo newspaper m INUH. Agnes MarPIJmI m [93]. [923 Elsie Mch'ill. 1919. Charlotte l'r’lmmn. Mayor n} ()truu'u. Ellen Falrrlough in l957. Jenn Sutherland Hangs was Humor! rim-t» [or of Canada '5 National Gallery in [066. I0, I974 WPONPM-«si H & C April. May. June I987 15