Tips for Giving and Receiving Feedback
Does the thought of giving or receiving feedback make you want to hide? If it does, know that you're not alone. Although it's perfectly normal to get anxious at the thought of giving or receiving feedback (especially if the input is, well, negative), it is possible to live without that anxiety. There's a world where you can confidently give and receive feedback. We want to help you achieve your professional goals at Possibilities Unlocked. We believe it's valuable to offer practical tips to help facilitate easier giving and receiving of feedback. Here are some tips for giving and receiving constructive feedback as a working professional:
Giving and receiving constructive feedback.
Tips for Giving Constructive Feedback
Use Kind Mannerisms
If you're giving constructive feedback, you want to ensure that your body language and facial expressions are warm. Smile, make eye contact, use a kind tone of voice, and stand up straight. Ensure your body language and mannerisms are kind and professional to have your feedback taken more seriously.
Leave Room for Self-Reflection
While many people resort to lecturing the person they're giving feedback to, it's a good strategy to ask open-ended questions that encourage self-reflection. More often than not, the person you're providing feedback to understands that something went wrong, so if you ask questions like "How do you think the meeting with the client went?" or "When you said that, how do you think your coworker felt?" you can avoid being condescending as you talk to the person you're providing feedback to.
Give Feedback in a One-on-One Setting
Never give feedback to one person in front of a group. Not only is this unprofessional, but it also makes you look like you're uncaring and unaware of basic social norms. Avoid critiquing someone in front of a large group; instead, take the person aside and provide feedback in a one-on-one setting.
Avoid Generalities
Try to be as specific as possible when you're giving feedback. When giving feedback, avoid generalizations that could come across as accusatory. Focus on specific comments related to particular events.
Tips for Receiving Constructive Feedback
Listen
Don't get defensive before you've had time to hear what the other person has to say. Instead of immediately attacking or responding to the person trying to provide feedback, take a deep breath and listen.
Think Before You Speak
We've all said something in the heat of the moment that we don't stand by now. Don't let this happen to you when you're receiving feedback from a coworker, client, or boss. Before you have any sort of rebuttal, think about what you're going to say. Don't say something hastily because you're emotional. Take a moment to compose yourself and think before you speak.
Ask Questions
Your perspective is inevitably going to be different from the person critiquing you. Maybe you think a certain situation went differently or better than the person critiquing you thinks it did. When receiving feedback, refrain from becoming argumentative. Instead, ask respectful questions to gain further clarification.
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