Feedback Strategies

(image source: matterapp)

 

I chose Be a Mirror: Give Readers Feedback That Fosters a Growth Mindset and How to Give Bad Feedback Without Being a Jerk for this post. These two articles give great tips about giving feedback.

I have never been good at giving feedback, because I don't know what to say. I know if an essay is good or bad, but beyond that I'm at a loss. How do I tell the person their writing is awful without outright saying it's awful? How do I say it's good without just saying "this is good."?

Be a Mirror explains rather well how to do this — "be specific, focus on what the reader is doing (not on what is missing), focus on the process, and take yourself out of the feedback."

This is such simple advice, and I'm not sure why I never thought to do this. I think I just worry too much about hurting someone's feelings. 

The jerk article really narrows down how to give feedback without being a jerk — "explain why you're giving feedback, take yourself off a pedestal, ask if the person wants feedback, and have a transparent dialogue."

I think this advice tends to lean more toward in person/work feedback, but the advice is sound. Instead of trying to beat around the bush, be direct with your feedback and explain your reasons for the feedback.

I think I need to practice giving feedback, and being more confident in the feedback I give. I know that I'm not just being mean, and if I word it in a way that makes my meaning abundantly clear, then it benefits everyone involved.

Feedback Thoughts

 

(image source: uxdesign.com)

 

 The two articles I chose were "How to Tame Your Inner Critic: A Simple Habit to Rewire Your Brain" and "Make Good Art: Neil Gaiman’s Advice on the Creative Life, Adapted by Design Legend Chip Kidd." 

I really liked these articles — especially the "Tame the Inner Critic" one. I have the tendency to be very self critical. I don't necessarily have a hard time taking feedback, and often welcome it. My issue is more that I am very self-damning when I make even the smallest of mistakes. It's something I've been working on, and I think this article offers great advice on circumventing those kinds of negative thoughts.

Regarding that, I think Neil Gaiman offers great advice in welcoming mistakes. His speech is fantastic (he's just fantastic in general), and I especially like his statement, "Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life."

I find that I will put off doing something, or just not do it because I'm afraid I will mess it up. I have perfectionist tendencies that I need to let go of, because I have stopped doing things I loved if they don't turn out to be 1000%, irrevocably perfect. If I'm not great at something right away, I give it up which is a shame because I don't believe people are naturally talented (unless you're Mozart).   Jake the Dog gives excellent advice regarding this.

I respond well to feedback from others, but I need to learn to respond well to my own feedback. It's a learning process to make mistakes, and I would do well to learn to make them.

 

 

 

 

 (image source: giphy.com)