Receiving feedback can be anything from an enlightening, ‘a ha’ moment, to an extremely painful experience, and often this depends on the delivery of the message, but it is also affected by how you receive the message and what you choose to do with it.
So what can you do to ensure that you get the most from feedback that is offered to you? We’ve found the following tips very helpful:
- Keep an open Mind – Try not to react defensively – it can be tough but try!
- Listen actively – Don’t interrupt or try to justify your actions, just listen to what’s being said
- Suspend any judgement – in learning someone else’s view you learn how your actions are perceived by others and this is very valuable
- Ask open Questions – Remember to ask questions so you fully understand the feedback – ask for more clarification if it’s not clear
- Ask for real examples that demonstrate the feedback so you can place it in context
- Remember feedback is one individuals view – ask others for their views to validate in more detail the feedback
- Say Thank you – Feedback is a gift
- Finally, only you can decide what to do with the feedback
Feedback is such an important part of development that we need to seek it, and seek it regularly. If you aren’t receiving any feedback then don’t be afraid to ask for some, at first people might be a little hesitant but once they understand that you are comfortable with receiving the feedback, they will offer the feedback with more depth and value.
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Photo credit: NicMcphee
Article by Hayley Oats
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