Experts consider feedback as the breakfast of champions.
What’s your take on it?
Feedback is the food for progress and, while it may not
always taste great, it’s healthy for you. The feedback you receive is free
information about you and whether you want to take it on board or not is up to
you. But look at it not as criticism but as a service by the person who’s
giving you feedback, as it makes you aware of your blind spots. The information
helps you get a different perspective on your actions/behaviour/attitude.
The information
helps you get a different perspective on your actions/behaviour/attitude.
Similarly, providing constructive feedback to others
strengthens your relationship with the people concerned as it helps them tap
into their personal potential.
According to a study published in the Journal of
Personality and Social Psychology, when faced with a challenging goal,
people’s motivation to improve their productivity increases up to 60 per cent
when they receive feedback doesn’t leave much of an effect on motivation with
an increase in performance of just over 25 per cent.
Do you receive feedback well?
Do you receive
feedback well?
Most of us can’t handle feedback well. We get embarrassed
even when someone gives us a positive feedback [compliment]. If the feedback is
negative, we see it as criticism and get upset and defensive. Actually, much
depends on the way feedback is delivered. I too have been guilty of not taking
feedback in the right sense. I have felt patronised when someone has delivered
feedback. However, the key skill here is to see beyond the delivery technique
and focus on the quality of the message. It’s free information.
The challenge, in receiving feedback with an open mind and
learning from it is that we have to disregard our natural instinct to defend
ourselves or our actions. Remember, as former first lady of America Eleanor
Roosevelt said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
Here are tips to help you accept feedback with grace.
Keep an open mind: It’s easy to think that people are
trying to criticise us or put us down. When someone approaches you with
feedback, don’t immediately put your guard up: be open to what the person has
to say – you could learn something valuable.
Be a person in progress: We don’t know everything
about ourselves and that’s where another’s viewpoint helps. They can teach us
so much. If each of us works on the premise that ‘I am a person in progress and
always will be’, then feedback is food for personal growth.
Listen carefully: When receiving feedback, really
listen to the message that you are being given rather than listening to your
own spin on it in your head. Sometimes we can distort important message by not
listening properly or openly to what is being said.
Check for understanding: If you are not clear about
what someone is telling you, ask questions to clarify.
Set objectives: When someone gives you feedback that
you feel is useful, set some clear objectives. This will help you fully
capitalise on the information you receive. If you want, you can even discuss
ideas and suggestions on improvement with the person who has given you the
feedback.
Keep a record: I have found that keeping a little
notebook with me to not down the feedback I receive, really helps me grow as
person.
Seek out feedback opportunities: Some of the most
successful people I have come across actively seek honest feedback when they
have done something. The more feedback you experience, the better you will get
at receiving it.
Thank the messenger: It takes effort and courage to
give feedback. So, when someone has taken the time and energy to give you
information that will potentially benefit you, it is good manners to thank them
for it.
