What You Miss By Not Asking for Feedback and How to Change That

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For skimmers:

? ?What: You need to start asking and giving feedback to unlock the habit of constant improvement.?

??? Why: Feedback and reviews pave the way for growth. They help you understand your capabilities and open 2-way dialogue with your community.??

?? How: Adopt a learner’s mindset. Ask for feedback with context on the intention. Offer something in return for feedback. Be open to suggestions/reviews you didn’t ask for.?

You know when you go to a restaurant for dinner and have a really really great time, and it just makes you want to leave a big tip for the server because they *literally* made the experience so good??

This is exactly what happened to me and my wife on our honeymoon to Vancouver Island! Surprisingly, we went back to the same restaurant a year later while celebrating our anniversary and we got the same server.?

He, of course, didn’t remember us, but we had a chat with him and told him about the review we left. I was delighted to see how much it meant to him and that got me thinking...

Feedback and reviews can be life-changing.?

Imagine you’re going down a road and without even realizing you take the wrong path. Someone suddenly comes up to you, taps on your back, and points you in the right direction.?

NBA coach Doc Rivers once said,?“Average players want to be left alone. Good players want?to be coached. Great players want to be told the truth.”?

The statement speaks for itself. But here’s what feedback can do for you:?

1. Feedback helps you build better relationships:?

Exchanging reviews and feedback helps you build stronger relationships with your community (mentors, colleagues, audience, friends) as they become a medium of your growth and you, theirs - it’s a full circle.?

One thing to always keep in mind is: Get feedback from the ‘right’ people. If you need reviews on your content, ask the people who are your target audience.?

On this note, I’d love for you to share your thoughts on my weekly newsletters. Do you look forward to them? Would you suggest my newsletter to a friend??Share your answers by emailing me here.?

2. Feedback helps you understand your capabilities & your audience:

While practicing for my Maven class, my team’s constructive criticism helped me refine how I was conducting myself.?

Not only that, I understood more about what my students would expect from me. It’s like hitting two targets with a single arrow! ??

When building your personal brand, you need insight into your abilities and also into the mindset of your audience. Only feedback can give you that.?

Step into the habit of asking for feedback and giving it. In 2021, feedback is the equivalent of coffee tips.??

3. Feedback opens the possibilities of interactions & opportunities that didn’t previously exist:

Someone I know got a freelancing gig because she offered feedback on a website. Another person got hired as a video editor because he pointed out ways in which the video could be improved.??

The internet works in mysterious ways. The next opportunity could literally be one *feedback* away.?

??? Here’s how to actually implement feedback:?

1. Always give the context for asking for feedback. Express your intention/reason behind the ask.?

Instead of saying: Hey! I’d love your feedback on my content.

Say: I’d love your feedback on my content as I’m looking to talk more about XYZ topics and I want to understand if you would derive value out of it. The more specific the better.

2. DM your true fans or supporters. Your hometown crowd that actively engages with your content will wanna share their POV.

It’ll be a good surprise for them. When you show people that you value their perspective it helps strengthen your relationship with them. Who is the person who always comments? Shoot them a DM and start a conversation.

3. Make it worth their time.

Tell people why are you asking for *their* feedback. Why are they the best person for it? You’ll be surprised how many people will respond.?

4. Be a giver: Ask how can you help them in return? This is highly underrated but works like a charm. Reciprocity is key. Offer to maybe review something for them in return, or provide your insight on any question they want to ask you.

5. Be open to feedback you didn’t ask for: Sometimes people will reach out to you to express their opinions.

Respect them and hear them out. Because people who do this are genuinely interested in helping you.?

?? ACTION BYTES?

Over to you now… Your homework for the week:?

1. Ask someone for feedback on your work (using any of the ways I suggested above!)?
2. Give someone your feedback - maybe to your colleague, your fav creator, or to a small business owner you recently bought from.?

I’m always excited to hear from you. Lemme know how it goes!?

?? RIFF OF THE DAY

Speaking of feedback, here’s a funny photo that might make you laugh about FB’s recent global outage problem… hoping some of the staff gave Zuckerberg some helpful feedback.

Thanks for reading! I try hard to make it a newsletter you look forward to each week, so if you have any suggestions about content you’d like to see or ideas that sparked, let me know.

Stay outta’ trouble and catch you next week.

??? Joel

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