How to accept feedback

A workshop on giving feedback was held in Dactyl. This article is a follow-up to the first part, in which we shared why feedback is important and how to give it. Now we'll guide you on how to receive feedback without misunderstanding or feeling under the weather.

After the feedback, be humble

When you receive feedback from a colleague, think of it as a gift. It is common to say thank you for it. But if you don't want it, you don't have to accept it. It is up to you to evaluate the benefit. 

Give feedback on feedback

Join us in recalling the radical openness scheme we described in the first part.   

It is beneficial to give feedback on the feedback you receive. Think about it - is your colleague offensively aggressive or devastatingly empathetic?

The goal is the intersection between personal interest and direct confrontation, i.e. radical openness. Has my colleague succeeded? If not, never mind, keep working on it.

Source: https://www.growjob.com/clanky-corporate/radikalni-otevrenost/

Don't be offended or passive-aggressive

Do not criticize the criticism, but try to understand it and come to a common solution. Ask about ambiguities. It may be that you see the problem from a different point of view.

It is good to remember that your colleague does not want to destroy or humiliate you. He or she wants to point out the gaps in your skills so you have the opportunity to improve them. Keep an open mind and don't take the PI as an attack. It's not personal.

How to ask for feedback?

Examples:

• "What can I do or stop doing to make your work better with me?"
• "Do I give you tasks clearly and understandably? Is there anything I can improve?"
• "What can I do to make sure you deliver deliverables on time?"
• "Why did this job take you longer than the last one? Is something wrong?"

Ask clearly, specifically, and in the direction of your work. This is how you will improve and move in the right direction. This is how you will improve and move in the right direction.

Take feedback seriously

Some managers feel that they don't need to listen to feedback from colleagues, whatever their position. It is important to listen to everyone. Newcomers have the greatest benefit to the company - they see things clearly and objectively, and can bring new ideas and new energy.

If you feel that a colleague is not competent to give you the WG, tell him/her and don't make up your mind why. The TA is an opportunity to change your communication, to advance your skills. Don't underestimate colleagues.

How not feel under the weather after feedback?

You know that feeling when you've been given a WG and it makes you feel like crap? Very often this is due to bad wording, and you have to warn your colleague to say something different next time. For example, send them a link to our first episode about feedback. :)

There are times when you are not doing well because you know you made a mistake or for some reason, you couldn't do a better job. That's okay. Working through the mistake is essential and any good manager or leader will help you not to repeat the mistake. Mistakes are opportunities to improve, you don't have to feel guilty about them.

Feedback should be enriching. If you are interested in more information, we recommend the book Radical Openness by Kim Scott.

If you are looking for a new job opportunity (where there will be no shortage of feedback), check out our open positions.

Helča wrote this article for you –⁠ our Product designer