Comments on: Feedback (part 1).

By: TangerineDream

TangerineDream — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:39:00 +0000

I’m the boss at work. I’ve learnt to ask for feedback from both my staff and my managers in other states. Scarey the first couple of times you do it but then because you ask for it, you’re better prepared to accept it because your mind is open and you show that you are prepared at listen (and take the risk that you might not like what you hear).

I ask for feedback all the time…and it’s helping me work on the areas that I’m not overly strong it..hopefully that’s making me better as a manager and an employee.

You’re never too old to start….I’m 52 (going on 29)

By: Kelvin Kao

Kelvin Kao — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:37:00 +0000

I’ve heard a veteran in the entertainment industry telling aspiring young actors that being able to take criticisms is very crucial to their success. Sometimes the feedbacks you get from the casting directors at the audition can be like a dagger to your heart, but they are so busy so they are not out to get you and don’t have time to sugarcoat things either. So you’ve got to be able to just take it and improve your performance. (Of course, that is, if you actually care about them liking you.)

Feedbacks are sometimes hard to take indeed. I guess one thing we should learn is to not become defensive right away.

By: Al at 7P

Al at 7P — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:14:00 +0000

I remember when I was first asked to give performance feedback to some of my co-workers, I was horrible. I thought I was supposed to give 50/50 equal balance of good/need to improve feedback, but I found that I needed to adjust it based on the person.

One star at my company knew he was good and really only cared about the areas to improve, while another sensitive person had a breakdown when I talked about the areas to improve. Eventually I became much better at reading the person to figure out the best way to give feedback… it only took a handful of people’s crushed egos for me to learn!

By: justme

justme — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:47:00 +0000

Hi Craig
Good post. The key point for me with feedback is to NOT take it personally.
I just look at it as a way to improve what I am doing and maybe get some new ideas or direction too. It’s all good.

By: Craig Harper

Craig Harper — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:42:00 +0000

Aaah Miss Jojo – at least you’re making progress!!

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By: Craig Harper

Craig Harper — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:40:00 +0000

HI Lauren – write in and tell us how it went – positive or negative, productive or not.

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By: Craig Harper

Craig Harper — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:39:00 +0000

Hi Patricia – you’re sounding so ‘grown up’ today…

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By: Craig Harper

Craig Harper — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:38:00 +0000

Hi Candy – yep, there are better and worse ways of giving and getting feedback. Some people’s ‘feedback’ is more like abuse – there ain’t nothin’ constructive about it.

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By: missjojo

missjojo — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:24:00 +0000

One thing I learnt at a training workshop maybe 15 years ago was to take feedback with an open mind and a closed mouth. It burned me at the time because I couldn’t say “but” “but” “but”. I have practiced it and although not perfect (my record was in a performance review 8 years ago where I started crying 2 minutes into it and cried solidly for an hour because I thought I wasn’t good enough….) I’m getting better.

Miss Jojo

By: Lauren

Lauren — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:56:00 +0000

I’ve actually got my performance review today. I better make sure I wear a nice shirt!