Feedback is the Gift that Keeps on Giving – 5 Easy Steps to Get More Honest, Helpful Feedback

As working women, we all face the common struggle of trying to climb the career ladder and improve our performance at work, but without honest and helpful feedback, it can be difficult to assess and grow our skills and abilities. In the workplace, feedback is an essential tool for growth, development, and advancement. However, despite the importance of feedback, many people avoid it, feeling uncomfortable with the process. But, feedback is a gift that will propel you forward in the workplace. Here are five easy steps to get more honest, helpful feedback.

Step 1: Know What You Want to Achieve from Feedback

The first step to getting more honest and helpful feedback is to define what you want to achieve from it. Do you want to know how to improve your performance in a specific area? Do you want to get more recognition for your achievements? Do you want to understand how others perceive you? Do you want to learn how to network better? Being clear about your feedback goals will help you to ask more relevant and specific questions and to filter out irrelevant or vague feedback. It will also signal to your feedback providers that you are serious, focused, and open to learning.

Step 2: Identify Your Feedback Sources

The second step to getting more honest and helpful feedback is to identify your feedback sources. Who are the people who can give you feedback that matters? Are they your boss, your colleagues, your clients, your mentor, your coach, or your peers? Who has observed your work closely, interacted with you frequently, and can give you both positive and negative feedback? Who has the expertise, experience, and credibility to evaluate your skills and potential? By identifying your feedback sources, you can reach out to them, schedule a time for feedback, and prepare yourself to receive it in a constructive and actionable manner.

Step 3: Ask the Right Questions

The third step to getting more honest and helpful feedback is to ask the right questions. Asking generic or superficial questions such as "How am I doing?" or "Do you think I am good at this?" will not elicit useful feedback. Instead, ask open-ended, specific, and relevant questions that reflect your feedback goals and your feedback sources' perspectives. For example, you can ask questions such as "What do you think are my top 3 strengths in this area?" or "What suggestions do you have for me to improve my communication skills in meetings?" or "How can I build better relationships with our clients?" Asking the right questions will show your feedback providers that you have thought about your feedback goals, respect their opinion, and are willing to act on their advice.

Step 4: Listen with an Open Mind and Heart

The fourth step to getting more honest and helpful feedback is to listen with an open mind and heart. Feedback can be uncomfortable, challenging, or even painful to hear, especially when it contradicts our self-image or expectations. However, feedback is unlikely to be useful if we ignore, resist, or deny it. Therefore, it's essential to receive feedback calmly, respectfully, and non-defensively. You should always express your appreciation for the feedback provider's time and insights, ask clarifying questions, and paraphrase what you heard to check your understanding. You can also take some time to process the feedback, reflect on its relevance and validity, and decide on an action plan.

Step 5: Follow Up and Follow Through

The fifth and final step to getting more honest and helpful feedback is to follow up and follow through. Feedback is not a one-way communication or a one-time event. It's an ongoing dialogue and a continuous improvement process. Therefore, after you receive feedback, you can thank your feedback provider again, share your insights or updates on your progress, and ask for further feedback if necessary. You can also apply the feedback to your work and behavior, monitor your results, and evaluate your impact. By following up and following through, you demonstrate your commitment to growth, your accountability, and your appreciation for feedback.

Feedback is a gift that will propel women forward in the workplace. However, getting more honest and helpful feedback can be a challenge. By following these five easy steps, women can increase their chances of obtaining feedback that matters to them, receiving it constructively, and applying it effectively. Feedback is not a luxury or a favor. It's a critical tool that women can use to bridge the gender gap, overcome bias, and advance their careers. As a woman, I urge you to embrace feedback as a gift, not a threat, and to use it to your advantage. Happy feedback-seeking!