Learn this one skill and watch your career take off

Are you looking for ways to really take your skills to the next level? Aren’t we all? It can be hard to find ways to grow your abilities in a competitive environment when there’s constantly looming deadlines, other professionals vying for the favor of the boss, and colleagues looking to take that next promotion for themselves. When are we supposed to find the time to learn a new skill, to add something impressive to our arsenal to put us above the rest? Luckily, there's something that you can do, that will set you above the rest and take no extra time from your day. In fact, it'll begin saving you time immediately, even while you're learning.

This underrated but incredibly valuable skill can be honed without taking a single extra moment out of your day. There are moments in your day that come and go without our notice, opportunities to use and improve this skill. Usually, those moments pass without our knowing, and with that opportunity lost.

The single skill I speak of, allows you to absorb the knowledge and experience that others have worked their lives to possess. It allows you a glimpse into the priorities and talents of others. It allows you to very quickly improve the quality of any project you’re working on. It's the ability to learn faster from those who wish to teach us.

No matter where you are in your life or career, you can develop the super human ability to seek out, consume and appreciate, feedback.

Let me back up. It might shock a few of you that I was once really a challenging person to give feedback to. (Those who know me, I hear you snickering!) I would argue and defend my work and ideas. I would personally take offense if people had something to add or would point out oversights. I would take it as a positive if there was nothing someone could say about what I presented, and in turn, I get that meant I must have done a good job. When I showed my work, no matter what it was, drawings and designs, writing, a process or system, I was secretly only listening for compliments, and everything else bruised or inflamed my ego.

I felt that every suggestion or comment chipped away at my sense of competency. I was really bad at accepting feedback, critiques, redlines, and edits, and worst of all... I didn't know it.

Now, I live for it.

Literally. I brush off compliments by accepting them lightly, knowing inside that those are the words of someone thoughtful and caring, but compliments don't serve you. Critiques, teach you so much more.

Feedback from customers shows you better ways to serve your market and grow your business. Redlines from a colleague or boss shows they took time to analyse your efforts and that they care enough to want to add their expertise too. Leaders and coaches have knowledge they want to share with you. The more open you are, the more they can give you.

Edits help you ensure your human errors aren't seen by the next people you show your work to. With every comment, critique and pointer, your work grows. Your work grows beyond your skill level, and you can take this experience with you to your next project. You also gain the trust of your colleagues and team, as you gratefully appreciate their knowledge and contributions. By accepting feedback, you're showing your appreciation of their insight, time and experience You'll find they want your comments on their work too. It's easy to trust and appreciate people who already appreciate you, after all.

Many times, the feedback you receive isn't 100% correct. That's fine too. What you've gained by listening is a lens into their thought process, values and competencies. You might find they focus on an area of your work intensely, that you addressed lightly. That shows you their values, their experience and their area of focus.

That's incredibly valuable information when working with others.

There will always be people who try to take you down a peg, with unnecessarily harsh responses and criticism. All you need to do is listen and filter. Look interested and take notes instead of taking offense. A lot of times, these are just people who want to impress you with their own skills and knowledge. Take it as the back handed compliment that it is. They care that you know they're skilled too.

The more you learn to make feedback your favorite intellectual dish, the more you grow. The more you'll gain the respect of your peers. The know they don't have to tip toe around you, and the more insight you'll gain from them. It's the most underrated, transferrable, everyday superpower there is. I challenge you to work on your flavor palette for feedback. Ask a colleague for a critical look at your work and give them a red pen with a smile on your face. Practice lowering your defences and pretend like it's exercise. It doesn't feel good at first, but I promise you won't know what to do without it. And if your first reaction is to say that I don't need to do this, I accept feedback fine, well, me from 5 years ago would like to say hi.

I would like to walk my talk too, so here I am asking you. If you've read a couple of my more recent articles, how am I doing? Am I providing you with material you're enjoying? If you were me, what would you change? I'm open to being told about anything from my grammar to my content, or if you think my big happy grin on my profile photo is just a little too big. I've been so lucky to have had great coaches, mentors, challenging clients, bosses and teams that have both helped me grow a thick skin, while building my confidence. So if your comments are made kindly and professionally, I can take it, and I'm grateful for your thoughts and the time you took to read and write back.

I genuinely appreciate your feedback.

Check out the website for free downloads resources, tools and fun for the family. Our philosophy is that business has a lot to teach at home, and the home is the foundation of all our business. Join in at www.household-ceo.com and let's celebrate together.

Stay tuned for the upcoming book. It's a very different look at the worlds we live in, work and home. If you want to build a strong career or business, and have a healthy happy home life, this is it. It's a journey into ourselves, our deep pasts and our own desires, and we take our loved ones with us. Self discovery and home-team building to form an even stronger foundation to serve as a launching pad for our biggest dreams and aspirations.

The Household CEO brings insights into the home from the work world, and brings you back to the down home basics, all in one. Pre-order the series today to include free coaching and all kinds of exclusive deals including discounts on home designs. Don't wait until the book is launched and this opportunity disappears!

Looking to design your perfect home? This book is more than just about team building in your home. We design the homes itself to serve you and your family, in ways you never thought a home could.

Send me a note on LinkedIN for more information. Or for some much appreciated feedback.