Get the Right Kind of Feedback
- Advoco
- Jan 14, 2022
- 2 min read
I have written several a-Minutes on the importance of getting and giving feedback. I even wrote one about replacing the word feedback with advice.
But is all feedback good feedback? In order for any advice to be effective, you have to learn how to recognize good advice and create an atmosphere where people won’t regret being honest. “Honey do these pants make my butt look big?” is probably not a good example of creating a great atmosphere for honesty!
To ensure good feedback, make sure the people you are asking for feedback know you well, but aren’t biased one way or another. They should have your best interest at heart but also be willing to be honest with you rather than always taking your side. Tasha Eurich, the self-awareness guru, calls these people “Loving Critics.”
On the other side of the fence are your “Harshest Critics.” While they may provide feedback, you must filter this feedback through the “Harshest Critic” lens just like you would have to filter feedback from your biggest fans who think you can do no wrong.
To create an open atmosphere for feedback, be upfront with people that you are working on your self-awareness and you’re seeking their feedback. A word of warning: they may look at you funny but that’s just a sign they need to work on their self-awareness!
Another important part to gathering feedback is that people usually find it easier to answer specific questions rather than just trying to give you a general assessment.
Then the most important step is prove to them you can take whatever they say well! Don’t lash out, don’t defend, don’t justify. Just thank them for helping you get better.
The higher up you go in your career, the harder all this gets. Self-awareness makes you more successful, but the more successful you get may decrease your self-awareness. Why this relationship? Because the more successful you are, the less comfortable people are in giving you sincere feedback. You will have to work extra hard to maintain your self-awareness. And it’s up to you to keep building positive relationships with everyone you work with in order to create that open atmosphere for feedback.
Improved self-awareness is a lifelong process not something you improve in a matter of a-Minutes.
Until next time…we are Advoco, make every minute count.
About Dale: As our VP of Operations, 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!
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