Surprise attack is never a good way to begin the process of receiving feedback and so I always say the more senior you are in an organisation then the more ‘seeking’ you really need to do. No one is going to take care of your career the way you will – so get out there and invite people to give you feedback. Encourage transparency, openness and truth. Feedback is a difficult conversation for anyone so ‘smooth’ the waters for others to open up and share because they know you ‘want’ them to!
Seeking feedback is the first of 4 very distinct parts of receiving feedback effectively:
Quite simply you need to choose the:
Right person – and you will know this because they have:
• worked with you and received what you produce
• earned your trust and respect
• influence over your career prospects
• declared negativity toward your performance in the past and can continue to impact on your career progression.
Anyone who fits into these criteria is the right person for you to actively seek feedback from.
Right task – and you will know this because it is something you have:
• been practising to improve
• experimented with to get different results
• accountability and control over
• discovered is critical to your future career progression
• strong emotional connection with – your passionate about it!
Anything you do that fits into these criteria is the right task for you to seek feedback on.
Right skills – and you will know this because you have:
• been practising to improve these skills
• been experimenting with using these skills to achieve different results
• clearly defined them as needing improvement
• identified them as being part of your “ideal self” definition
• accepted you are ready to receive feedback on them and be completely open to hearing it with a readiness to accept it
• been told they are critical to your career progression.
Any skills you use that fit into these criteria are the right skills for you to seek feedback on.
Receiving feedback from others you trust is one of the most critical ways to develop self-mastery; so make sure you unleash the courage to seek the kind of feedback that is going to enable and encourage your personal and professional growth.
