What is it?
Information, solicited or unsolicited, that provides an opinion on how a person has performed something.
Why is it important?
We are a work in progress. Each of us is at a unique point in our personal and professional journey, and we all have things that we can improve. Feedback is an important source of input to help us improve. Ask: How am I doing? What might I do better? Depending on self-awareness level, feedback is an excellent way to start on a journey of self-improvement.
Feedback is a gift. Sometimes it is criticism. It is still valuable information from which to operate. Ask: Is this a belief I want them to have? If not, seek ways to change that belief. Don’t filter feedback. Ask questions to clarify.
And always say thank you.
Why does a business professional need to know this?
Every solid business professional acknowledges the importance of feedback. It should be something that you seek out for personal and professional growth. It is also something that a good business professional is willing to proactively share with others in an effort to help them learn and grow.
Providing good feedback should be a pleasure! As a practice, you might want to mark your calendar every week for some time to send positive feedback and thank you notes. Regularly sharing good feedback and appreciation will build trust and respect with your colleagues and staff.
Providing constructive feedback should be done tactfully and with care. It’s important that the recipient of the constructive feedback understand your motive. If someone trusts you and believes you care about their success, they are more likely to receive and use the feedback. If they question your motive, they may not appreciate the feedback, and in some cases, might get defensive. As best you can, make it safe, and ensure they understand your intention. Like all things, practice makes perfect. The more you share feedback, the better you’ll get.
The most successful business professionals are adept at both giving and soliciting feedback. It’s worth the time and effort!
References
About Theresa Hummel-Krallinger
Theresa is an award-winning comedian, having won two Emmys for her work on the PBS talk show, “Counter Culture.” She is a well-respected training professional and performance consultant. Known for her lively and interactive presentation style, she is a frequently requested speaker on leadership, career management, organizational culture and workplace communications. She has been a featured speaker at numerous regional and international conferences.
Term: Feedback
Email: tkrallinger@highfiveperformance.com
Website: highfiveperformance.com/
Twitter: @theresahk
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tkrallinger/
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