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Dodgeball No More: 10 Powerful Tips to Master Feedback (and Level Up Your Career!)


Meet Dave. 👨



Dave avoids feedback like it's a game of workplace dodgeball. 🏀



But guess what, Dave? Embracing feedback is the secret sauce to leveling up your game. Think of it as the GPS for your career. It's the roadmap to take charge of your growth.✨



And yes, getting feedback can be like lemon juice on a paper cut.🍋 It is sometimes incredibly uncomfortable.



Learn to be comfortable with this discomfort.

Embrace feedback as your friend. It's there to help you.

These actions will supercharge Dave's (and your) progress.⚡⚡⚡


 

𝟭𝟬 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗘𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞

 

𝑮𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌

Instead of asking 'How am I doing', ask 'What's one thing I could do to improve my work on this project'. Ask for one specific piece of feedback.


After your request, suggest a time to discuss the feedback later that week. Give them time to think about what they want to say.


When requesting feedback, explain why you're asking. Clarify the value of the feedback to you and your development.


Own your mistakes and share what you learn from them. Explain where you're not the best and where you'd like help. This communicates your openness to continuous improvement.


Institute peer reviews or regular project critiques. Toyota put a big red square on the assembly line floor and new employees had to stand in it and make at least one suggestion or critique at the end of their training before they could move on.


This is a personal favorite. Ask 'What's one thing you'd like me to stop doing, one thing you'd like me to start doing, and one thing you'd like me to continue doing.' One of my clients in Nairobi asks his Senior Leadership team to critique one another using this technique once each year.


𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌


Don't interrupt. Don't argue. Just listen and focus on understanding. Repeat back what you heard. 'So what I hear you saying is... is that right?'


Even if you disagree, thank them for telling you. No defensiveness. No excuses.


If you disagree, with the feedback write it down and walk away. After a few days, come back and see if there's a kernel of truth hidden within. Focus on that kernel and put the rest aside.


What if the feedback is at least partly correct? What might you do differently? Regardless of the feedback itself, do you think this would be a good thing to try?


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