Feedback is essential for learning and improving, but it can also be challenging and uncomfortable. How you respond to feedback can make a big difference in your personal development. In this article, you will learn how to receive feedback with a growth mindset, a positive attitude that embraces challenges and opportunities for growth.
A growth mindset is a belief that your abilities and talents are not fixed, but can be developed through effort, practice, and feedback. People with a growth mindset see feedback as a valuable source of information and guidance, not as a judgment or criticism. They are open to learning from their mistakes and failures, and seek constructive feedback to improve their performance and skills.
Feedback is important because it helps you identify your strengths and areas for improvement, and provides you with specific suggestions and examples to help you achieve your goals. Feedback can also motivate you to work harder, challenge yourself, and overcome obstacles. Without feedback, you might miss out on valuable insights and opportunities to grow and excel.
Before you receive feedback, it is helpful to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally. To make the most of the experience, set a clear and specific goal for what you want to learn or improve. Remind yourself of your growth mindset and why feedback is beneficial for your development. Acknowledge any feelings or emotions you may have, such as anxiety or defensiveness, and try to remain calm. Be open and curious when receiving feedback, without making assumptions or judgments about the content or the person giving it.
While I agree with what has been said, it seems quite one-sided. The purpose of feedback is to aid us in change, and I believe this is best achieved through dialogue. Therefore, if we feel uncomfortable or sense that receiving feedback here and now isn't beneficial, or if we feel uneasy in the situation for any reason, it's important to express this. The giver of feedback should assist and support the receiver so they can comfortably and openly discuss the topic. Feedback isn't a unilateral declaration but rather a dialogue with a clear purpose: to support the growth and change of the other person.
When you receive feedback, it is essential to listen actively and attentively. Pay attention to the content and tone of the feedback, and make an effort to comprehend the main points and examples. If you need more information or explanation, ask clarifying questions without interrupting or arguing with the feedback giver. Express your appreciation and gratitude for the feedback, and recognize the effort and intention of the feedback giver. Finally, summarize the feedback and reiterate the key messages and action steps to ensure you understood correctly.
While all of the above is true, it must be remembered, that not all feedback comes from experts. Feedback is also often more about the person giving the feedback, wanting to look good, than wanting to help the recipient of the feedback. It is therefore important to process the information and recognise what is valuable for your development.
One of the ways to benefit from feedback is to actively seek it. By doing so, you already get into a mindset of accepting it willingly. It is important to seek active feedback only from a select few who are accomplished in that specific field, and are also invested in your success.
First and foremost, it's crucial for both the giver and receiver of feedback to understand that its purpose is growth and change, not criticism. During active listening to feedback, one must pay attention to what resonates and what doesn't. Simply nodding politely and humbly is not active listening. Seeking understanding and value ("How does this help me?") is key.
After you receive feedback, it is important to process it and decide how to use it for your improvement. Consider reviewing the feedback to identify strengths and areas for improvement, comparing it with your own self-assessment and goal, evaluating what is relevant, useful, and actionable for your situation and context, and prioritizing the feedback to choose the most important and feasible actions to take. Doing so will help you make the most of the feedback you receive.
One of the main ways to process feedback when given to you is to seek more clarification. This stops any defensive behaviour or emotional responses. Being open and responsive to feedback is a key leadership trait.
We all know the immense power words hold in our lives. Words can greatly influence how we feel about something. Here I make a strong case of using 'feed forward' instead of feedback. This is just not semantics but it changes our perspective that whatever has happened - we only use that to learn from it, but our entire focus is on how to use that learning going forward. This perspective makes it easier for us to accept and value feedback.
The final step of receiving feedback with a growth mindset is to act on it and implement the changes and improvements that you decided on. To do this, create a plan for how, when, and where you will apply the feedback and monitor your progress. Additionally, seek support and guidance from others who can help you with your plan, such as mentors, coaches, peers, or friends. It is important to celebrate your achievements and successes, and recognize your efforts and growth. Finally, seek more feedback and repeat the cycle of learning and improving.
One of the most impactful ways to receive feedback well is to remember that the person giving the feedback is telling you a lot about themselves, their opinion, viewpoint and past experiences. They may have the best of intentions and they may be offering helpful feedback that is valuable to consider. And they may not be. Either way, it's an opportunity to learn and grow. That's it. Even the hardest to hear feedback doesn't affect your worth. And it may just be the thing you needed to hear to evolve to the next level in your career, relationships, health - your life!