What do you do if your career in Product R&D is being influenced by feedback from supervisors and managers?

2 Communicate effectively

Communication is key to successful product R&D. You need to communicate your ideas, assumptions, methods, and results clearly and convincingly to your supervisors and managers, and also listen to their input, questions, and suggestions. Use data, evidence, and logic to support your arguments, and avoid jargon, ambiguity, and emotional reactions. Be open-minded, respectful, and collaborative, and seek to understand the rationale and perspective of your feedback providers. Ask for clarification, examples, and feedback criteria if you are unsure or confused.

3 Be flexible and adaptable

Product R&D is a dynamic and iterative process that requires constant experimentation, evaluation, and refinement. You have to be willing to change your plans, assumptions, and solutions based on new information, feedback, and market conditions. Don't get too attached to your ideas or take feedback personally. Instead, be ready to embrace new challenges, opportunities, and perspectives, and adjust your approach accordingly. Learn from your failures and successes, and incorporate feedback into your next steps.

4 Seek constructive feedback

Not all feedback is equally useful or relevant for your product R&D. Some feedback may be too vague, subjective, or inconsistent to help you improve your work. Therefore, you need to seek constructive feedback that is specific, actionable, and measurable. Constructive feedback tells you what you did well, what you need to improve, and how you can do it. It also gives you clear and realistic goals and expectations for your product R&D. To get constructive feedback, you can ask for it explicitly, provide context and background for your work, and request examples and suggestions.

5 Balance feedback with your own judgment

While feedback is important and valuable for your product R&D, it is not the only factor that determines your success. You also have to rely on your own judgment, creativity, and intuition to make decisions and solve problems. Sometimes, you may disagree with the feedback you receive, or find it conflicting or contradictory. In such cases, you have to weigh the pros and cons of different options, and choose the one that best fits your vision, objectives, and criteria. You can also seek feedback from other sources, such as peers, mentors, or customers, to get a broader and more balanced perspective.

6 Show appreciation and follow-up

Feedback is a gift that your supervisors and managers give you to help you advance your product R&D career. Therefore, you should show your appreciation and gratitude for their time, effort, and expertise. Thank them for their feedback, acknowledge their points, and express your interest and enthusiasm for improving your work. You should also follow-up on the feedback you receive, and show how you have implemented it, or explain why you have chosen a different course of action. This way, you can demonstrate your professionalism, accountability, and commitment to your product R&D.