How Well Do You Take Feedback?
We humans have a natural resistance to correction of any kind. But criticism, when delivered in a productive manner, is an opportunity for exponential growth.
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg was asked to name the number one thing she looks for in someone who can move up with a company.
“Someone who takes feedback well,” she said. “Because people who can take feedback well are people who can learn and grow quickly.”
It can be difficult to receive feedback on your job performance and not take it personally, but that’s what is needed if we want to grow in our abilities and achieve our full potential.
Justin Bariso at Inc.com says that “most criticism is rooted in truth, even if it's not delivered in an ideal manner. He suggests that a person on the receiving end of feedback has two options when responding. We can choose to put feelings aside in favor of learning, or allow ourselves to get angry.
Mistakes are just a part of life. How we react to our mistakes will determine whether we grow or repeat the same missteps.
So how can you put this life skill into practice at UIW?
Here’s a start. Next time your professor returns an assignment with a grade lower than what you expected, use the feedback as a way to learn. Ask your professor what a better approach to the problem might look like. See if there are certain areas of the subject matter where you can grow and increase your knowledge.
Approach feedback as a means to reveal the ways in which you can improve, rather than a list of things you did wrong.
Learning to master this will serve you well during your time as a student and far beyond graduation.