As the saying goes, “Feedback is a gift,” but what happens when the feedback you are receiving is negative or sudden, and makes you feel uncomfortable even after much time has passed?
Sometimes, we will get less-than-welcomed feedback at work and if we can handle them healthily in the following ways, we can improve our performance and create a better relationship with our boss.
Be willing to listen
When receiving feedback, the role you need to play is a listener.
A feedback session can sometimes turn defensive due to the receiver feeling the need to justify his or her actions, and that can lead to a negative conversation.
The best way to receive feedback is to listen and be engaged. You can ask questions to clarify the points raised or even note them down.
It is best to avoid reacting immediately without having a good think over them.
Be mindful of your body language
Giving feedback also takes courage from the speaker.
Therefore, when a person takes time to evaluate and prepare notes to help you improve, it is essential to show in your body language that you welcome it.
Tight lips, grim expression, or even stiff folded arms – these are some signs of body language that you may wish to avoid doing.
If you are being approached, ask the person to meet you in a relaxed setting like a café or meeting room where you both can have privacy to express yourselves.
Be objective
In many situations, people only get to see one side of the story. You may feel unhappy with the feedback and feel like you need to justify your actions on the spot.
If so, after the person has finished speaking, you can respond to his feedback in a less confronting manner by asking for permission to share and give context to the situation.
Sometimes, with better understanding, it can help minimize confusion and allow for better feedback to be given from both parties in an amicable fashion.
Be grateful
A way to show you have positively received the feedback is by giving thanks.
You can do so by dropping the person a thank-you e-mail or even set up a follow-up coffee date to discuss further.
If the feedback came from your boss, you could let them know you will work on the points highlighted and during the next review session, you can check if you made any improvements.
