As humans we can find, feedback hard to listen to and even harder to take on board, however peer feedback is important for your development. As long as the feedback is constructive (not malicious) then I would recommend you to think ‘sponge’ and soak it all up, and then ask for some more. Don’t agree?
The below may reassure you:
1. You will learn something new about yourself
I recently learnt that something I said about 8 months ago, completely off the cuff, was still being referred to. I had never thought to ask for feedback on how I express myself to colleagues, which was a big oversight on my part. I would have learnt much quicker that my opinion is of importance and I should pay more respect to it. Asking for feedback will give you insight to how others see you and you will learn something new about yourself.
2. You are strong
Being able and willing to accept feedback, even when it makes you feel uncomfortable, is a very impressive and powerful skill to have. Your manager, peer or friend will see the power of your graceful nature and be in awe of it. It will reassure the instigator that you are not taking their feedback personally and you are confident and assured in your own skin
3. Your future self will thank you
The job you currently have will not be your job forever! You will grow and develop new skills and move on up the ranks. Imagine if you learnt these new skills at double the time of everyone else, think how much you could achieve. Most people ask for feedback in their 6 month review; why don’t you ask every two months and see how much you learn and develop in a year – I bet you it is double your colleague who doesn’t.
4. Turn negative into positive
So you’ve had a bad week, perhaps there has been some tension, or a project didn’t go to plan – diffuse that negative situation by asking for feedback on how you could have changed the situation immediately. You will show you want to try and salvage the situation and that you want to make changes for the future.
5. Understanding
We are all so busy in our daily lives that sometimes we forget to stop and think everyone else has different lives and different experiences. By asking for feedback on things you gain an understanding of what your boss, your peers and your colleagues think is good or bad. You can then gauge in future situations how to act; this is very valuable insight that other people just don’t take the time to collate. Have a go and see what you learn about your colleagues.
It is hard to ask for feedback, but make a conscious effort to AND put into practise (that’s the important part) and see just how quickly you learn new things and watch doors start opening.
