How can you use feedback for stress management?

It is critical to note that mindful feedback is a skill that is cultivated within an environment that promotes psychological safety. The culture has to be intentionally created where trust is built from the top down that employees can give and receive mindful feedback. Leaders in the organizations have to encourage this culture by being the role models, taking the first steps to engage with the employees in a respectful and mindful manner. Without this foundation, it is challenging to engage in mindful feedback.

I'd like to add the THINK-method. Is it True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary and Kind. These are some questions that go with this idea: ?? Is the feedback is my perception and thus has to do with my beliefs, not the truth? ?? How will my feedback help the person? ?? Will it help the person flourish? ?? Egos aside, is it really necessary for this person to hear my view? ?? Am I delivering my message in the way that is kind and loving? ??

In my experience mindful feedback stems firstly by cultivating good relationships. It’s a respectful interaction rooted in the understanding that the individual has the solutions. I am there to enable exploration. It’s a non judgmental space, a space for learning and questioning. It’s a space where individuals feel like they have a voice and that they are heard. It’s a space to set intentions and a space to explore the constraints of resistance. It’s a space to concentrate on the moment. This moment is not you. This issue is not you. You are many, let’s look at that.

Mindful feedback can assist in stress management. It can help you gain a deeper understanding of your stress patterns and develop a more meaningful and healthy way to mange stress.

One thing I have found helpful is active listening and understanding what should be a personalized recommendation from various options to help other person. Later it should be followed up with the progress for applying an alternative that best works.

Effectively using feedback is vital for stress management. Ways to do this include regular self-assessment to understand stress triggers, seeking input from trusted individuals for external perspectives, accepting constructive criticism, and evaluating the effectiveness of stress-reduction strategies. Feedback helps in making necessary adjustments, setting realistic goals, and seeking professional guidance when needed. Regular check-ins with yourself and others maintain accountability, and it's essential to celebrate even small improvements in stress management.

There are preparations that need to be done before engaging in mindful feedback. As the speaker, you want to be clear of the desired outcome that you'd like to achieve by having this mindful feedback. This has to be communicated clearly to the recipient first. Be concise and specific and ensure that you are in a calm and relaxed state, rather than be in a state of anxiety. Preparation of a warm and open environment is important. As the receiver, you want to practice deep breathing and mindfulness before going for a session to receive feedback. Evolutionary, we are wired for negativity bias and it's hard to not be anxious when there is a feedback session. As you enter into the conversation take time to extend kindness and gentleness to self.

In giving mindful feedback, it's important to be in a place of being mindful of others' at the time you are giving the feedback. Another piece of this is offering objective feedback that promotes one feeling safe receiving the information and offering a way for the individual to feel supported.

Know your intentions, express your intentions, be real, be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Know when the person you are talking too becomes resistant to your questioning. Intuition to know if taken things further will harm the relationship. Be Authentically yourself.

As you receive the feedback, focus on how your body is responding as well as your emotions. Name your emotions if possible and assure yourself that you are doing something difficult for your own personal growth. It is not easy but you are building your muscles to be courageous and open to feedback. It takes time and practice to be good at it. Be patient and give yourself time. When you notice that you're triggered, do take time to regulate your feeling by self-soothing. This can be done by slowing down your breath, stroking your hand gently and inconspicuously and repeat some calming statement like "i can do this", "this is not easy and I'm training myself to be open and tough".

Approach the conversation with an open mindset, genuinely willing to listen and learn. Maintain an approachable demeanor, such as maintaining eye contact, using open body language, and offering a welcoming attitude. Keep your emotions in check. If the feedback triggers a defensive response, take a deep breath and remind yourself to stay calm. Regardless of the nature of the feedback, express appreciation for the person's willingness to provide it. Thank them for their insights and honesty.

Receiving mindful feedback involves being open and receptive. Allowing yourself to be non-defensive will provide an environment for constructive feedback about your behavior, actions, or performance.

After listening to the feedback, take the time to evaluate how you can translate them into small actions that you can take to manage your stress better. Once you've prepared the list, encourage yourself to experiment with each of the ideas. To prevent feeling like a failure, approach it with curiosity and as a experiment just to how you'd respond and feel after implementing a certain action. Review and modify accordingly. If you're successful in it, keep doing it. If it doesn't work, find other options and give affirmation to yourself for having the courage and perseverance to keep trying.

All too often we hear feedback as criticism, or a reflection of our character. Try and view feedback as merely information to guide you toward actionable steps for improvement. Additionally, consider evaluating the feedback objectively: "Is this feedback right for me?" "Do I agree with this feedback"? "Will taking action according to the feedback align with my life's goals and values?" Feedback in certain situations may indicate that a major life change is due for you. Maybe it means a change of job, career, or relationship is what's really needed to reach your full potential and life satisfaction. Use feedback as powerful information to propel your life forward in your current situation or for transition to a positive life change.

Feedback can be a valuable tool in stress management. It can be used to gain insights from others to which can help you to better understand your stress triggers and responses.

It’s about setting up organisational culture that doesn’t view feedback as a negative but as as forum for growth. It’s about recognition of individuals lived experience. It’s about setting up a culture for learning and demystifying the need for perfection

In my experience negative feedback can be experienced by some as threatening and after the first few sentences it is very difficult for the person to absorb anything else that is said as they have effectively shut down. This is because of their own personal experiences of conflict. Growing up watching your parents/family deal with conflict will have some influence on your feelings about it. How do you deal with your feelings of anger, hurt and difficulty? This will heavily influence your ability to receive feedback. Being aware of this is the first step, to know that about yourself. Asking yourself - 'what happens to me when I receive feedback?' what happens in my body, what emotions do I feel?