We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.
Bill Gates
We just celebrated another new year, and for many of us, this is a time that we think about ways to be a better version of ourselves. Usually, we come up with these New Year resolutions on our own without consulting others for input. I like to actively seek feedback from others on my team, my boss, my family, and my friends. Often, I find out something that I didn’t know about myself.
FYI (For Your Improvement)
I work in technology, so often, when I’m visiting one of our locations, someone mentions that some technology is broken or not working correctly. I always make sure that I get someone to work on their issue, but I also ask, “did you open up a ticket with the Service Desk?” When the answer is no, I respond by saying, “we can’t fix it if we don’t know that it’s broken.” Personal feedback works the same way. You can’t improve if you don’t know what you’re doing that is not working.
Unfortunately, people often don’t provide positive or negative feedback to others. I get it. It can be uncomfortable to tell someone that they could have handled a situation differently. People can get defensive or even angry when they hear something they don’t like about themselves. But honest and open feedback gives us another perspective on ourselves. If we can listen to it, it can enable us to grow and become a better person.
Making Feedback Work
- Be Positive – If you have difficulty providing feedback to others, start with the positive. Find something that someone is doing right and highlight it. You can also do the same with your coworkers. Remember the last time that someone told you that you did a great job on something? How did it feel? You can be that motivating and positive force to other people.
- Use A Mirror – It’s also essential to seek out feedback on yourself and your performance. Because it can be difficult for people to provide feedback, sometimes you need to go out yourself and get it. Ask your manager, “what am I doing well, and what could I do better?” Ask your coworkers what they think about how you did on a presentation or what insights you provided in a meeting. Ask your direct reports how you could improve as a manager.
- Be Open – Finally, try not to get defensive or dismiss the opinions of others. Even if the feedback you get isn’t accurate (or you don’t think it’s true), it is still their perception of how they see you. This information is hugely valuable! It allows you to see if your intentions match your desired outcomes. For example, I once got feedback from some team members saying that I needed to be a better listener. I thought I was a great listener! The problem was the way that I was listening to people. If I was taking notes or doing something on my computer, people didn’t feel heard. Feedback like this challenged me to change my approach to ensure that I was listening and that my team felt heard when I was doing so.
Please take an opportunity today to recognize someone on your team for the great work they are doing. Be specific. Also, I encourage you to solicit open and honest feedback from someone you know and trust. You might be surprised at what you learn about yourself!
