Hi taraz.I used to be work in a very large company where every one was nice to each other face to face and the opposite behind your back. Criticism is good when it is valid and can be bought in the open and discussed. It should be used as a learning tool and used more often. No one likes criticism so they will fix whatever needs fixing if they understand what it is and the reasoning behind it.
In that kind of environment, reasoning is imprtant.
When it comes to taking criticism, I think that o matter how it is presented or how uncomfortable, it is possible for the individual to reflect on it and see if there is value within. Easier said than done without a sense of emotional stability.