Ignoring someone's weaknesses only turns them into big-time company problems. Always praising and reaffirming a lackluster worker never turns them into the employee of the month. But when handled carefully, criticism--honest, genuine, hard-to-hear criticism--promotes trust and respect, motivates individuals, and serves as a catalyst for change. If that sounds far-fetched, it's because few understand how to properly give and receive the kind of critical...