How can you stay motivated and resilient when receiving negative feedback?

There is a quote circulating on TikTok/insta at the moment that I think is worth sharing here, it runs something along the lines of 'Your ability to grow is directly proportional to you ability to hear hard truths without running away'. I think this is very true, the ability for someone to be 'coachable' i without a doubt in my opinion their most important professional characteristic. If they are not coachable, we are effectively done. If they are coachable we are only just getting started!

Staying motivated and resilient amid negative feedback requires a constructive mindset and practical strategies: Perspective Shift: View feedback as an opportunity for growth, not a personal attack. Seek Clarity: Ask for specific examples to understand the feedback fully and identify areas for improvement. Set Emotional Boundaries: Allow yourself to process emotions but don’t dwell on them. Focus on actionable insights. Develop an Action Plan: Use feedback to set realistic goals for improvement. Celebrate Progress: Recognize and celebrate improvements and successes, however small. Build a Support Network: Surround yourself with supportive peers. Practice Self-Care: Ensure you’re taking care of your physical and mental health.

One thing that has worked for me is to remain calm and process my thoughts as slowly as possible. If you must say anything, make it an honest question for more clarity on the feedback. I have also found that committing to do better, acknowledging the opportunity provided for that gap closure, and keeping the promise to improve says a lot more about you in the long run.

The best way to build resilient character is to anticipate the most likely scenarios and how they would be possibly unfolding. This will help you to design mitigates much more in advance. In this process the time manufactured will help to deal with the exigencies which occur unexpectedly much more easily.

Whenever you receive criticism, you hear a different viewpoint. Seeing things from a different perspective helps us gain awareness and perhaps learning about ideas that may not have been considered before. This leads to self-reflection. By taking an active role in recognizing our thoughts, emotions, and feelings—positive or negative we become more mindful and aware of what is happening in the present—of all that is going on internally as well as all around us. It shifts us from living our day on "autopilot" and requires us to engage in our thoughts and surroundings actively.

Staying motivated and resilient in the face of negative feedback is pivotal, and I find that seeking clarification and understanding is the key. Approach the feedback with curiosity, asking questions to gain deeper insights into the perspectives being shared. This proactive engagement helps demystify the criticism, turning it from a vague or disheartening comment into actionable insights. By thoroughly understanding the context and specifics, you can objectively assess the validity of the feedback and how it aligns with the goals or the project's objectives. This clarity transforms the potentially negative experience of receiving criticism into a valuable learning opportunity, fostering personal growth and professional excellence.

I completely agree with seeking clarification and ideally asking for examples to better understand the feedback. I know the most frustrating and disappointing feeling is being misunderstood, but being given an opportunity to explain yourself or keep yourself honest / self aware is important. Try not to resent someone who is brave enough to give you feedback to your face - is important to encourage and embrace for personal growth. If you understand how your action was received, whether or not it was your intention, you learn to become more mindful in the future and develop your character.

Concentre-se nos aspectos positivos: Lembre-se de que receber feedback, mesmo que seja negativo, significa que alguém se importa o suficiente para fornecer insights para ajudá-lo a crescer. Concentre-se nos aspectos positivos do feedback, como a oportunidade de aprender e melhorar. Desenvolva resiliência: Aprenda a lidar com críticas de forma construtiva e a n?o deixar que isso afete sua autoestima. Desenvolva resiliência emocional para superar críticas e seguir em frente com confian?a.

It may be hard to consider that the criticism (or at least part of it) is true. This may lead us to reflexively (and perhaps angrily) respond. Rather than dismiss any negative feedback, stop and take a deep breath and do a quick self-assessment. Reflect on the following questions: -Am I realistically acting in the best way? -Are my attitude and body language where I need them to be? -Is my attitude or behavior contributing to the problem? -Are my emotions running out of control? Once you take the emotion out of it, you can clearly and carefully reflect on feedback before deciding whether or not to accept or dismiss it.

Receiving negative feedback can be tough, but acknowledging your initial reaction is key. Validate your emotions, whether it's disappointment, anger, or something else. Talk to someone you trust and treat yourself with kindness. Now, let's dissect the feedback itself: Source: Who's giving the feedback? Are they qualified and did they deliver it constructively? Content: Is it specific and accurate, pointing to areas for improvement? Does it offer suggestions for progress, not just criticism? Context: Does the feedback align with the project's goals? Consider your perspective too - are there valid reasons for your approach?

I believe in viewing such feedback as a valuable learning opportunity rather than a setback. Taking action is key; I start by objectively analyzing the comments, identifying areas for improvement, and setting clear, achievable goals to address them. Following up is equally important, and so is committing to revisiting progress regularly and seeking further feedback to gauge improvement. This proactive approach not only demonstrates dedication to growth but also transforms the negative into a catalyst for development. Embracing this mindset fosters a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability.

After digesting the feedback, I make a plan to address the areas needing improvement and take concrete steps toward change. Following up, either by checking in with myself on progress or revisiting feedback with others, helps me stay on track and demonstrates my commitment to growth. It's a proactive way to turn feedback into a positive force for development.

Once you've acknowledged your emotions and evaluated the feedback, take concrete steps to address the areas identified for improvement and follow up to demonstrate your commitment to growth.

Make sure you’re not renting for this one as you may get in to trouble with your landlord. Find a wall in your house where you can track your growth with a pencil, you’ll need to ensure the pencil aligns with the top of your head and don’t tiptoe. It’s often to find someone else in your household to track this, preferably a parent. Once you see that you have grown, invite your friends over and throw a party. The party can be to your choice - whether you want to play pass the parcel or throw a rager either will work. Just make sure you’re truly celebrating that growth. A cake is non negotiable. Ideally the wall you tracked your growth on is actually a giant cake and that’s the big party reveal.

Celebrating my achievements and recognizing my own growth are key to staying motivated. Each time I reach a milestone, no matter how small, I take a moment to appreciate the effort it took to get there. This celebration reinforces my progress and energizes me for future challenges. It's a reminder that every step forward, guided by feedback, contributes to my personal and professional development.

If we shield ourselves from all feedback, we stop growing. – Brené Brown Receiving constructive feedback can motivate us to change and be more effective physicians and better colleagues. We can improve through feedback by actively listening and reflecting on the criticism, clarifying any unclear points by asking questions, accepting responsibility, and focusing on solutions. Remember, criticisms don't define you.

After the initial sting of negative feedback, acknowledge your emotions, then critically evaluate the source, content, and context. If valuable, take action to improve and follow up. Finally, celebrate your growth and achievements, big or small, to stay motivated and keep moving forward.

Thought leadership, has leadership in its name. While too many seem to think this requires subject mastery and a pedantic approach, you might be surprised that some of the best coaches aren't even familiar with some of the problems they help solve. As a consultant, for instance, many appear to their clients as if they know everything about their business. That's rarely true much less possible, even if you kept a fairly narrow selection from the same industry. It's important to realize that, most organizations will know more about themselves than any consultant. Thought leadership is often most effective when those coaching act in a more therapeutic capacity, bringing a fresh perspective and questioning the status quo as an external.

See it as an opportunity: Reframe negative feedback as a chance to identify areas for improvement and learn something new. Focus on effort, not outcome: Recognize that progress takes time and effort, not just perfect results. Use feedback to guide your effort, not define your worth. Seek clarification and specific examples: Instead of dwelling on generalities, seek specifics to understand the feedback fully and focus on actionable steps. Learn from mistakes: View mistakes as stepping stones on your journey, not roadblocks. Analyze the error and actively seek to learn from it. Celebrate small wins: Acknowledge and celebrate your progress, no matter how small. This reinforces your commitment and motivates you to keep going.

Be your own best critic. Socrates said “the unexamined life is not worth living”. If you trust your critics, relish their feedback. Choose the voices you listen to with great care.

Negative feedback is feedforward. Separate the gem from the muck. Take what's useful and coach yourself to explore how you can use the gem to grow yourself. Every piece of negative feedback has a gem that can unlock your potential if you allow it. Don't get lost in the muck.

Assess the motivations and intent of the negative feedback. If it is a put down triage your thoughts and disarm its impact on you.

One piece of advice that's easier said than done is: don't take it personally. If it's constructive criticism, you can use it to your advantage and better yourself. If it's not constructive, then you need to realize that maybe the problem lies not with you, but with the biases of the person providing the feedback. In any case, you can always take it as a learning experience

Feedback can be a valuable partner on your journey to growth, whether it's positive or negative. However, to make the most of it, you need to have the right mindset and attitude. Resilience isn't something that can be built overnight; it requires continuous effort over time. Instead of resisting feedback, focus on identifying key takeaways that are areas for improvement and strengths to sustain.

The Four Agreements. Read it. Often. It's a life manual to flip through over and over again. Specifically, consider #2 here: Don't Take Things Personally. Criticism and feedback are tools. They are tools for us to leverage and learn from, not to internalize and self-doubt or ruminate over. We are brilliant beings who can choose to learn, relearn and adapt. There's so much power in recognizing this.