Asking For Feedback

The way we view ourselves is different than the way our colleagues, friends and family perceived us. So it’s important to get feedback from the people around you, for personal growth and self awareness.

Asking feedback can be stressful sometimes and that’s why not everyone is open to it, but it’s like building a habit. More often you do it, easier it will become. The people who solicit feedback – negative and positive feedback both, they are more adaptable and committed to whatever they are doing as the believe in self awareness and continues improvement.

Some tips about asking the feedback:

Be clear on what you are looking for to improve on or learn about, when you are asking for feedback.
Ask for feedback in real time. If you want feedback about a meeting ask right after a meeting.
Ask specific questions which will come from your clarity of what you are looking for. Do not ask questions with yes or no response like “Do you have any feedback for me?” Instead ask how and what questions:
- What one thing I could improve on?
- What is one thing I could have done better in that presentation?
- How did it go from your perspective?
- What do you think I might have done differently?
- How could I have been more assertive?
Ask for examples like what kind of things I should do to be more assertive going forward?
Apart from boss, ask feedback from colleagues too.
It’s ok to ask for only positive feedback to understand your strengths and strive to be great at your strengths instead of only focusing on your weaknesses. Like “what one thing I did well?”
Always ask “Is there any thing else?” when feedback is provided to get maximum out of that interaction.
Ask clarifying questions to ensure that the feedback is actionable for you. For example if you get feedback that you presented all the points very clearly. Ask what things made the topic clear? Or if some one says your are passionate speaker ask What do I do or say that convey passion?
Never explain away feedback, you do not need to agree on the feedback as it is their perspective of how you come across. If you get negative feedback, ask clarifying questions like “Would you please tell me more about it?” “How often you have seen me do this?” etc. and then be gracious.