How you receive feedback
Determines how successful you become (in career and life).
4 proven tips to help you gracefully accept the gift of feedback:
1/ Listen actively
Why: By approaching feedback with curiosity, you show a willingness to listen to understand (vs. to respond) the other person's perspective.
How: Maintain eye contact, nod to acknowledge understanding, and wait until the person has finished speaking before responding. Remember, listening doesn't mean you agree with everything.
"Thank you for sharing your thoughts on my presentation. I'm curious to learn more. Can you elaborate on the areas you think need improvement and what advice you have on how I can approach these differently?"
2/ Seek diverse perspectives
Why: Asking for feedback from different people gives you a clearer picture of what you’re doing well and where you can improve. Plus, it helps you spot patterns in how others see your work.
How: After receiving feedback on risk management from one person, reach out to others for additional perspective.
"I'm looking to improve the quality of my risk management and reporting within my program. Do you have any advice for me in this area? Your input will help me de-risk execution and provide more accurate representation to stakeholders."
3/ Take time to process and reflect
Why: Feedback can sting at first contact. Taking time to process it helps you manage your emotional response and consider it objectively. You can then identify key takeaways and develop a plan for implementing changes.
How: "I appreciate your feedback on my communication style. I want to take some time to reflect on your suggestions and consider how to incorporate them into my interactions with the team. Can we schedule a follow-up meeting to discuss my action plan next week?"
4/ Express gratitude and close the loop
Why: Expressing gratitude shows that you value the person's time and effort in providing feedback. Following up proves you’re serious about improving.
How: "Thank you for sharing your feedback on my project estimations. Your input on factoring dependency review timelines has given me valuable perspective. Attached is the revised proposal based on your suggestions. I welcome any additional feedback you may have."
PS: Feedback is not all-or-nothing. Even if you don't agree with everything, there's usually something valuable to take away.
PPS: How gracefully you handle feedback directly correlates with whether others will give it to you (again).
