Are You Seeking Feedback?

Giving feedback is hard. Asking for feedback is harder.

Managers are required to give feedback, but what about receiving it?

No matter your position in your career, feedback will help you perform better.

Once you get over your own ego, it can really propel your career.

The most important part of feedback is how to apply it.

First, you need to discern if the message is aimed toward improvement.

Let's be honest, some people don't have the purest of intentions when critiquing you.

If the messenger means well, next peel back the emotional reaction and look for objective advice.

I say objective because often we take things too personally.

It took me a while to actually appreciate and seek out feedback knowing I'm probably going to hear things I don't like.

Think of it like a gardener pruning a plant.

You have to remove the dead parts (weaknesses) in order to grow.

As a leader, it's crucial to know your blind spots.

Every great leader in any industry is self-aware.

That means they know their strengths and weaknesses.

Without hearing and accepting feedback, it's impossible to get better.

Consider feedback a means to an end.

It may never feel good receiving feedback because the areas for improvement will always sting a little bit.

(That's why it takes 5 compliments to counter 1 criticism)

As a speaker, I never enjoy watching recordings of my performance, but I do.

I need to see what I'm doing wrong because I am my harshest critic.

That applies to you.

This is why feedback is a tool.

Tools are resources to make our work easier/better.

Professional development is asking for ways to do that more efficiently.

Asking for feedback is one of the most proactive and effective ways to perform better quickly.

• If you haven't asked for feedback recently, do that this week.
• If you consistently ask for feedback, share in the comments below how it's helped you!

Don't wait for someone to give you feedback, be a leader and go ask for it.