5 Tips on Receiving Feedback
Although feedback can often be difficult to hear, we must remember that it is one of the most valuable tools we can use in personal and professional development. Here are a few tips that can help you to be more receptive to feedback.
Differentiate Feedback from Criticism
There is a distinct difference between feedback and criticism. Feedback is for the most part positive comments that are said to promote improvement. Criticism on the other hand, is different. If you criticize someone you are making a judgement about what someone else believes to be wrong.
Listen
Really listen carefully to what the person is saying and also listen with the mindset that this is for you benefit. They are telling you this for your development. Hopefully this will make you more receptive to what they are saying.
Trust
You must not assume that you are being attacked. The other person is actually only trying to help you. You do have the option of disagreeing with the feedback but this in turn will convey that you don’t trust the person and may harm the relationship.
Be Gracious
You must be gracious for the time and effort the giver has taken to explain their point of view.
The giver of feedback has you’re best interests in mind so even if you do happen to disagree, thank them for their efforts and explain you appreciate their opinion.
Stay Open
Be open-minded and see this as an opportunity to learn to things about yourself that you didn’t notice before. This I an inevitable part of natural development and feedback is an excellent way of accelerating this.