Accelerate #12: We're Doing Feedback Wrong

Happy 12th edition of #Accelerate!

We each have collections or memories of half-baked feedback—the scribblings of a busily occupied mentor/evaluator.

However, in moments of praise and positive feedback, the person bestowing the praise is a genius, a savant, a master of words, and probably great with babies and heroic in wartime too.

Jokes aside, too many of us will have received extremely extraordinary feedback this year, suggesting that the bell curve does not know itself. But the visual representation of a normal distribution doesn't usually get it wrong.

Instead, I suggest, we are sh*t when it comes to feedback. Here's why:

Proposal Evaluations/RFPs are Not Generative of Good Feedback

Small businesses have to plead for constructive feedback outside of price these days. In a strange way, large enterprises will receive more feedback from the RFP process (at least in the United States), though they don't adjust well based on the thoughts of a small few.

When a longer narrative is provided, it is often in the unfortunate disqualification letter, whereby justifications have to be written down in formal tones and Legal has to add in their pieces about protest rights and so forth.

These letters can represent the most words exchanged between a supplier and a purchaser in modern procurement.

But the goal isn't to have the world's longest conversation or to have any correspondence at all besides an award notice.

There's a Paradox to Feedback

There's a paradoxical nature to feedback (dubbed on the nose as the feedback paradox): the very thing that should be the most useful—experience and individual perspectives—can limit its usefulness.

We Also Think that Feedback Is About the Recipient

Feedback is a projection and reflects the giver's worldview more than we like to admit. It can be based on personal preference and an unexplained feeling that the workplace should be quiet or loud in order to be productive, for instance. Maybe that office manager lived in a quiet or loud house growing up and had wildly successful parents.

Because of these reasons, feedback is like digging through a collection of utensils of varying qualities (wooden, large, spoonlike, etc.) while trying to create a grocery list. Essentially harmless and somewhat related, but not immediately helpful.

Transforming Feedback into Acceleration Fuel

Rather, with a little bit of reflection and a few considered techniques, we can invert things:

1. Contextual Analysis: Understanding that feedback is often a reflection of the giver's experiences, we can analyze it contextually, extracting valuable lessons while discarding biases.
2. Actionable Insights: Transform generic praise or criticism into actionable insights. If feedback is a collection of varied utensils, we must learn to pick the right ones to cook up our recipe for success.
3. Adaptive Strategies: In RFPs, use even the scant feedback to adapt and refine strategies. Small adjustments based on buyer preferences or market trends can result in significant leaps forward.
4. Constructive Internalization: Learn to internalize feedback constructively. Instead of dwelling on the negatives, focus on how it can foster innovation, resilience, and adaptability.
5. Feedback as a Mirror: Use feedback to reflect on your own goals and strategies. Does it align with your vision of growth? If not, it might be time to pivot or adapt.

Let's Reflect and Share

As we wrap up this edition, ponder your own experiences with feedback. Have they been a guiding star or a misleading compass? Share your thoughts, spread the word, and let's navigate the intricate dance of feedback together.

#Accelerate aims to streamline your contracting process. This edition, like every other, is dedicated to advancing practical strategies and effective pacing to tackle delays in procurement.

Joseph Letke, the founder of TKS and Uppercentile, streamlines procurement and contracting processes. TKS enhances contracts across healthcare, government, and education, prioritizing strong partnerships and high-quality proposals. Uppercentile offers targeted solutions to boost healthcare efficiency and outcomes in the post-pandemic landscape.