Feedback vs. Advice

Have you ever asked a colleague or manager for feedback and received the answer of, “I can’t really think of anything”? Or if they do provide feedback, it is often too vague to really help? That’s because most people (both giving and receiving) view feedback with a negative connotation.

We are uncomfortable providing “feedback” to our coworkers because we don’t want to hurt their feelings, or we feel we aren’t in a position to tell them what to work on because we have our own issues to work on! So the default mode is to provide vague, generally praising comments that lack any actionable information.

But without this critical feedback loop how can we get to what we truly need to work on to reach the best versions of ourselves? I think it’s as easy as replacing the word “feedback” with something that everyone loves to give….ADVICE!

Next time you want feedback on a presentation, how to handle a difficult conversation, or your job performance, ask a coworker/manager for advice. Asking for advice opens up the conversation for critical and actionable input without feeling like you are being critical to the person asking.

I don’t know about you, but if someone asks me for my advice on anything I am usually more than willing to share my thoughts and opinions. It’s because it feels less formal than “feedback.” People can take your advice and ponder it, think it over, compare it to the other advice they have received, and make a judgement on whether to accept it or not.

Feedback is too closely associated with evaluation. Evaluation is a mirror reflecting what’s in the past. But advice focuses on possible future actions. Whereas the past is unchangeable, the future is full of possibilities.

So stop asking for feedback, and start asking for advice!

Until next time…we are Advoco, make every minute count.

About Dale: As our Executive Director of Human Resources, Dale is the powerhouse behind helping our team grow. He graduated from USC-Upstate (but considers himself a Dayton Flyer). He has over twelve years of HR experience in a variety of industries, focused primarily on talent acquisition and organizational development. Dale is passionate about challenging himself, and when he’s not in the office, he’s training for his next big race. Each year he picks a different race to compete in. In the past it has been mostly running events, but this year is all about biking, he just completed a 75 mile relay from Asheville, SC to Greenville, SC. Questions? Send Dale an email!

#DaleThrush #FeedbackVsAdvice