In This Post, We’ll Talk About Pointers For Receiving Feedback Effectively
Giving feedback is a challenging endeavor. Receiving it, on the other hand, might be even worse in some situations. When you ask for comments, you’re putting yourself out there, and some people are brutally honest. It might be frightening, but even the harshest criticism can contain hidden jewels.
Perhaps you’re fortunate enough to work in an environment that values open, honest, and kind feedback, and it’s not a huge thing to hear it. Even in these circumstances, there are methods to make the most of the input you get.
5 Pointers For Receiving Feedback Effectively with a Bonus tip
What exactly is feedback?
Feedback gives you the chance to congratulate yourself on your accomplishments while also discussing areas where you need to improve with a coworker. As a consequence, both of you will profit.
Note that, in this post, I’m presuming that “feedback” be offered in the form of a written statement to yourself and your boss, as Microsoft’s Perspectives tool suggests.
1. Read it from the perspective of the giver
It’s natural to become defensive when someone says anything that fundamentally contradicts who you are or how you operate. Take into account the following:
You never pay attention to the team and constantly go your own way. I wish you’d simply take a breather and think about other people’s thoughts for a change!
Wow, this is some tough criticism. It doesn’t give you a fair chance to answer, it’s exaggerated, and it directly assaults you. That isn’t to say there isn’t something to be learned from it.
The provider is plainly annoyed, but perhaps a recent occurrence has pushed them over the brink to be so harsh. On the day they wrote the comments, they may have been grumpy about something else. Don’t think the giver merely “complains about everyone” or that what they’ve stated is obviously incorrect.
There’s a useful tidbit in this – it appears the donor doesn’t think you listen to them. It might be as easy as failing to thank someone at a meeting for their proposal. The giver may think you’re outstanding at coming up with new ideas or putting team proposals into action.
2. Clarify any misconceptions and speak with the giver
When it comes to reading comments, assumptions can assist, but they can only go so far. Talk to the individual who gave you the critique and find out exactly what they meant. It’s all too easy to misinterpret what someone has written when there’s nobody language or tone of voice to help you.
If you believe someone has said anything unjustly or you don’t understand what they’re saying, use the feedback as a starting point to speak with them in person. Consider giving it some time if you’re still suffering from something nasty that was stated. Take a pause or sleep on it, and then approach the provider with an open mind.
3. Maintain a growth mentality
It’s fantastic to get good comments on how well you’ve been doing. Receiving criticism that shows you where you need to improve might be unsettling. You should be proud of yourself for doing so. Take every piece of critique you get as a chance to learn, even if you don’t agree with it – particularly if you don’t agree with it.
You were given critical criticism for a purpose, and you should use it to develop yourself. Accepting that you are not perfect as you are right now, but that you can constantly develop and grow as a person is a part of having a growth mindset. It may appear to be a business word, but it may have a significant influence on your personal life and career.
4. Make a clear request for feedback.
This isn’t as valuable once you’ve received the criticism, but it’s something you can do ahead of time. If you’re a programmer and you approach a marketing colleague for comments, they could respond, “I don’t know anything about programming, I have nothing to say!”
Make it clear what you anticipate. “I’d appreciate comments on my ability to explain how our features function to the marketing team,” you can say. “Have you ever felt like I was tough to work with?” or “Have you ever felt like I was difficult to work with?”
This provides you and the giver with specific topics to discuss. This can also come in helpful if the only feedback you get is generic, such as “You’re doing OK.” With this kind of input, you’ll never improve, therefore asking for specific areas of improvement makes it easy for the provider.
5. Validate the input and express gratitude to the source.
Giving feedback may be challenging and time-consuming. Whether you agree or not, express your gratitude for the giver’s time and effort. If a point is contested, repeat it to the giver in your own words, emphasizing that you understand what they’re trying to communicate.
It’s demotivating to send feedback over a wall and into the ether and never hear back. By stating that you believe the views stated are true and come from a real place (even if you disagree! ), you are encouraging free dialogue among your team. This will be appreciated by your teammates.
6. Don’t let it go to your head (bonus!)
This principle holds true for both positive and negative input. It’s fantastic to get good feedback on how well you’ve been doing, but if that’s all you get, you won’t be able to progress! Consider taking a step back to see if there’s any feedback that individuals are reluctant to tell you. Assist in creating an open workplace where individuals aren’t scared to tell it like it is.
Similarly, don’t be discouraged by unfavorable responses. If you’ve gotten a lot of negative comments, you can think that everyone is against you. You wouldn’t get such feedback, though, if the provider didn’t believe you could change and better!
If you’re worried about a piece of criticism, speak with a peer or mentor and get a second view or reading. This is also an excellent time to meet with your boss and devise a strategy for improving yourself and the team.
To sum it up
With these suggestions, you should be able to start fostering a stronger feedback culture at your own business. Teams may grow and operate more efficiently, and achieve more success, when everyone is comfortable offering and accepting criticism.
