You’re struggling to get your message across. How can you use feedback to improve your communication skills?

2 Why is feedback important?

Feedback is important because it can help you achieve your communication goals and improve your interpersonal relationships. By getting feedback, you can understand how your message is perceived by others, what impact it has on them, and how you can improve it. Feedback can also help you avoid communication breakdowns, conflicts, and misunderstandings that can damage your reputation, trust, and collaboration. Feedback can also help you grow as a professional and a person, as it can challenge you to learn new skills, perspectives, and strategies.

3 How to ask for feedback?

Asking for feedback can be daunting, but it is an important sign of professionalism, curiosity, and willingness to learn. To ask for feedback effectively, you need to be specific and clear about what kind of feedback you want and why. Additionally, it is important to choose the right time and place to ask for feedback. Avoid times when you or the other person are busy, stressed, or emotional. When selecting who to ask for feedback from, consider someone who has relevant expertise, experience, or insight into your communication situation. Lastly, be respectful and appreciative of the feedback giver. Express gratitude for their time and insights and actively listen without interrupting or arguing. Ask clarifying questions if needed and show interest in applying their feedback.

4 How to give feedback?

Giving feedback can be tricky, especially when delivering negative or constructive feedback. However, it is a valuable skill that can help build rapport, trust, and respect with others. To give feedback effectively, be specific and objective about what you observed and what you want to address. Use positive and supportive language to highlight the other person’s strengths and areas of improvement. Additionally, be timely and relevant with your feedback, ensuring it is related to the communication situation and goal. Lastly, be respectful and empathetic with the feedback receiver. Consider their perspective, feelings, and needs when giving feedback in a friendly, polite, and constructive tone.

5 How to use feedback?

Receiving and giving feedback is not enough; you need to use it to improve your communication skills and outcomes. To do this effectively, review and reflect on the feedback, identify the main points, themes, and suggestions it provides. Compare it with your own self-assessment and expectations, and analyze it for its accuracy, validity, and usefulness. Afterward, plan and implement the feedback by deciding what actions to take to apply it and improve your communication performance. Set realistic and specific goals, strategies, and timelines for your improvement, and seek additional resources if needed. Monitor and evaluate the feedback by tracking your progress and results as you implement it. Measure and document the changes and improvements that you achieve, then seek more feedback to confirm or adjust your actions and goals. Through seeking and using feedback, you can enhance your communication effectiveness, clarity, and impact while also building stronger interpersonal relationships with your audience. So, how do you use feedback to improve your communication skills? Share your tips and experiences with us!

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?