Feedback - Receiving

Getting feedback is probably the greatest opportunity for you to grow, learn, and improve your relationships with others. Why? Because you are constantly being given feedback. It happens daily. To ignore it is to lose the opportunity to adjust your behaviour and attitudes. Here is how to take full advantage of messages others are giving you:

1. Be receptive to feedback. If you're not sure how you're doing, ask people you trust to evaluate you.

2. Listen, listen, listen. Let the person giving feedback finish before you interrupt. Listen to be influenced. If the information is extensive, consider making notes.

3. When the feedback is done, summarize and echo back to the "giver" your understanding of what he has said.

4. Thank the person for the feedback. Let her know how useful it was. More important, tell her how you're going to use the information to change and improve.

5. Try not to explain the reason for doing less than expected. Take time to think, so your emotions can be put aside.

6. Ask the person who gave you the feedback to give you feedback later on, particularly if he sees a change.