Getting Feedback

Feedback is a vital tool for anyone looking to improve themselves, professionally or personally.

Feedback can be difficult to take for someone who is not accustomed to it, or someone who is not open to objectification of what they have done or presented. I had a leader/trainer once that pushed very hard the fact that feedback is a gift.

Throughout the local area of my company we still to this day say this as a truth, but also a joke. It is very true, if you take feedback in the correct light, it is very much a gift.

I interviewed for a promotion several months back, and then shortly afterwards I asked for some feedback on my interview as I did not get the promotion that I interviewed for. I was told that my interview was above average, even exceptional, but obviously there must have been something that I could improved on.

Getting second place did not land me any kind of promotion. I showed up early to the meeting, brought pen and paper, and took notes vigorously. I asked as many questions and I could to find out more information on how to improve what was spoken in the interview.

Although we discussed some items at length, the grades I got on higher scores I left alone if my supervisor did not offer feedback. My supervisor is regularly buried with work, and I know that his time is much more valuable than mine (it is not like I wasn't getting paid for this feedback, although I would have went to get it even if I was not going to get paid).

When you are getting advice or feedback, make sure that you focus more on listening than talking. You do not need to speak and show your power in this situation. It is much better to show how open and receptive you are.

This supervisor does not deal with me directly usually, there is another manager in between him and me. I still consider this supervisor my true manager/leader, because I preform on the same level as the managers above me, in some instances I preform above them. As arrogant as it sounds, it is true. I know there are definitely better managers out there than me, much more experienced, etc. However, there are also many managers out there above me by title, but far below me in skill.

I say all of that only to show that even though I might be more skilled than someone above me, if I want a promotion I still have to go forward showing that not only can I grow, but I want to, and that I am open to feedback from anyone on any level.

As a closing, remember that feedback is just that, it is not a demand that you must change whatever is asked of you. In this case I will work and focus on what was given to me in case I have to interview again someday, but sometimes we get feedback that is good to keep in mind, but does not necessarily require action of any sort.

Sometimes to understand how to take feedback it helps to learn how give feedback.
Here is a book that you might check how that may help you understand how to give feedback, and thus help you take feedback.