French culture normalizes criticism as routine part of evaluation, separating critique from judgment of personal worth. When French colleagues criticize your work, performance, or ideas, they are typically addressing the specific thing being evaluated, not attacking you as a person. This separation allows direct criticism while maintaining positive relationship; one can be criticized and still be valued.
If you receive critical feedback, understand that it represents evaluation of the specific matter, not rejection of you. If you react as though criticism were personal attack, you may be seen as unable to receive feedback appropriately. The cultural frame treats criticism as information, not hostility.
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