How to use Feedback at Work to Your Advantage

We typically receive feedback during quarterly and annual reviews with our superiors. Whether you’re receiving feedback in that context, or in a less formal setting, here are some tips to use it to your advantage and view it less negatively.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a sensitive person. I’m all about the feelings and I’ve had the tendency to take things personally. Even in the workplace, I’d be anxious to have meetings with my manager in fear of getting negative feedback. The thought of me doing something wrong or not being up to par haunted me and I often took feedback to be a totally negative reflection on me. Over the years, through growing in my career and working for different companies, I’ve learned to welcome feedback. I’ve started seeing it less as a personal attack on ME and more as a tool to move the needle on my career growth. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s struggled with this so here are a few tips and thoughts I have on feedback at work.

Be Open to Feedback

First and foremost, have an open mind. Be open to receive feedback from your superiors, your team and cross-functional colleagues. There’s always more to learn about your work and receiving feedback from people who have been in your shoes can be valuable. Feedback may not always come in the form of a formal one-on-one sit down meeting. It could be as simple as someone suggesting you take a different approach to a project. Use these various points of view to your advantage to broaden your perspective! Of course you’re not obligated to apply every piece of feedback you get, but be open to hearing it out.

Don’t Take it Personally

As I mentioned before, this was the hardest hurdle for me. I was okay with being open to hearing feedback, but if I got anything less than positive it was an internal battle for me. I had to learn that I’m human and will make mistakes. Along with that, it’s okay for others to point out growth opportunities for me. It’s important to know that getting feedback on how to strengthen your weak points does not mean you’re a bad employee. All it means is that someone is taking notice of you and they want to help you improve.

Ask Questions

When you receive feedback from your manager, asking questions is important. If you need clarity on what you should be doing or how you can improve in some way, ask them. Especially in the setting of an appraisal, the goal should be to set you up for success going forward so questions should be welcome. If you’re like me and tend to think of the hard-hitting questions after your initial meeting, ask to set up a follow up meeting where you can ask questions. You’re likely to feel less anxious once your questions are answered and you have an idea on how to move forward.

Apply the Feedback

Once you receive feedback and have the chance to ask questions, it’s time to apply it. Figure out ways you can sharpen your skills and improve your quality of work. For example, if you receive feedback that you should work with others more, look for projects within your team or your company that you can be apart of. It’s also helpful to let managers know what you’re interested in or have proficient skills in. Having those conversations can help them help you. They may catch wind of a project or special training and nominate you for it because they know it’s something you could benefit from. Applying feedback and taking action on it will benefit your carer growth and signal management that you take feedback seriously.

I hope you all found this post useful. Feedback is actually very important to propelling your career and it’s not something that everyone has the opportunity to receive. Be open to what may come your way and take to heart anything you can apply to improve.