Three Tips To Master Giving And Receiving Feedback At Work

1. Don’t take it personally, even when it feels personal

It’s natural to feel defensive when someone gives you critical feedback, but if you treat all feedback like a personal attack, you’ll miss the good stuff.

When you receive feedback, try this:

• Pause before responding. Say "Thanks for the feedback" even if it stings.

• Ask a clarifying question. Try "Can you give me an example?"

• Take time to reflect. You don’t have to act on everything immediately.

It helps to remember: feedback is about behaviour, not character.
It’s not "you’re bad at your job." It’s "this one thing could be stronger."

2. Give feedback without creating tension

Whether you’re a manager or not, it's important to give feedback well.The key is to be clear, kind, and specific and try avoiding the 'feedback sandwich' at all costs - everyone knows what you're doing and it often comes across as fake.

Try this format instead:

• What happened

• Why it matters

• What could be done differently

Example:
"I noticed the report went out without the final numbers. That caused confusion with the client. Next time, can we do a final check together before sending?"

Keep it calm. Don’t overexplain. And never use feedback to settle a score.

3. Ask for feedback before it’s forced on you

Waiting for your annual review is a missed opportunity.

If you ask for feedback regularly, you:

• Show initiative

• Build trust with your manager

• Avoid nasty surprises later

Try this:

• "Is there anything I could be doing more of or less of?"

• "What’s one thing you’d change about how I handled that project?"

• "What does success look like from your perspective?"
  
  

You don’t need a crisis to get input. You just need to be willing to grow.

Two Quotes To Reflect On For The Week Ahead

“Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.”
– Brené Brown, Dare to Lead

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.”
– Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Meme of The Week

Don't forget, it's important to give positive feedback too... 


Image credits: World of Habits