- Giving and receiving feedback, which is known as feedback , is a key process for the progress of organizations and institutions, but it will depend on the goodwill of its members.
- This feedback, which will undoubtedly affect personal relationships between colleagues, requires compassion, honesty, trust, and absolute frankness from the individual.
If we work in some kind of organization, and especially if we are in charge of work teams, then surely we will have to live with the comments that are made regarding this or that action, of course. Considering that feedback , as this process is called, is of the utmost importance in any functioning organization, let's see how to give and receive feedback correctly in a business setting..
Being able to learn from this feedback that is constantly produced in the environments already described is really difficult, because we must fight against our own denials, our own fears. Many times, in fact, our first reaction or that of the person who receives our comments will be to become directly defensive. But we must try to go one step further, and understand this back and forth.
We say this because everyone, but especially leaders, plays an integral role in fostering the culture around work. A culture of hostility and negativity will often prevent constructive feedback and allow for harsh criticism that will only taint relationships..
But, with the right mindset, feedback can drive a positive culture and nurturing framework .
The key aspects to give good feedback
Compassion
Comments have to be compassionate. That is to say, one must not be harsh when there is no need to be. Resorting to it could lead to a worsening of relations and a self-defeating lack of trust..
Therefore, instead of understanding feedback as part of learning, these people will end up believing that they are only corrected because they do everything wrong, and they will tend to become demoralized. As a consequence of the above, we must try to be as compassionate as possible in such a case.
Honesty
While harsh comments should be avoided, this doesn't mean honesty can be neglected . Usually the truth hurts, and that in itself is enough to make the recipient feel hurt. Taking care not to be harsh if necessary, this should not lead us to omit or relativize events.
Being a leader is somewhat complicated, as we are often going to have to juggle between maintaining good relationships in the workplace and ensuring competition. If you have experience in this position, we are sure that more than once you have avoided some uncomfortable truth in order to preserve the good vibes .
It's not bad for you to handle yourself that way at first, but remember that sooner or later you will have to make honest, raw, no-nonsense returns. Perhaps a feedback at the beginning prevents other problems later .
Trust
But compassion alone would do nothing, if it weren't for the glue that should unite both: trust. Really, useful feedback depends on the trust that exists towards peers .
Leaders have to lay the foundation for constructive feedback, providing support to those below, allowing them to work together with confidence, and to be able to say what they think without hurting or hurting each other.
Individual aspects of receiving feedback
On the other hand, when giving or receiving feedback, if we are the one receiving it, we can feel attacked. Have you ever tried to defend yourself against a return and explain yourself, instead of listening carefully?
This is a completely understandable reaction when it comes to receiving feedback, but the thing is that even when the feedback isn't harsh, many individuals are offended by their mindset .
This is a condemnable practice, both collectively and individually, because even when other people's opinions are wrong, one can learn from them. So there are no reasons not to receive them .
The fixed mindset, impediment to growth
We were talking before about mindset, a concept known as fixed mindset to be more exact . We must be aware of everything that triggers our thoughts, and how we can learn, accepting other people's comments, even the inaccurate ones. Or get stuck rejecting these returns .
And we are not talking about the opposite of an open mind, which could be gladly receiving comments, then discarding their content. No, here we mean that you have to be open, but also predisposed. Predisposed to analyze the totality of the message received, and to take the precise parts in our favor .
Hearing the perspectives of others can allow us to grow substantially in ways we weren't aware of before . It can help us appear more capable in the eyes of others, not just ourselves, which always adds up.
Think of it another way: there are people out there investing time in you, when they might not . Especially pay attention to what those you admire say or do, if you want to be like them.
conclusions
In summary, returns or feedback are essential for personal and community success, so we have to be willing to live with them, whether we have to receive them from someone... or do them to that other person.