Some people have trouble with critical feedback. But the truth is, feedback is crucial to improvement.
Let’s face it, no one’s perfect. Deep down, we know that there’s room for improvement, yet we don’t like to hear about our shortcomings from a colleague. When we receive feedback with suggestions on how to improve, we may feel many things, from mild displeasure to utter devastation. But that doesn’t mean you should shield yourself from feedback.
Just consider the cautionary tale of Carsten.
Carsten was a senior manager at a medical-equipment factory. He was bossy and refused to listen to anyone, even when the failure rate of the company’s medical parts began rising. According to his HR manager, Carsten believed that his stature as a top manager gave him immunity from feedback. He also thought that being open to feedback would make him look weak, so he built an environment where he couldn’t be reached.
Without feedback, people usually don’t know how to improve. So it’s best to create a work environment where honest feedback is seen as safe and helpful, and gets delivered with good intentions.
When employees feel as though the entire team is doing their best and everyone is eager to help each other improve, feedback begins to feel much less like a threat
After all, if someone told you that you have toilet paper stuck to the bottom of your shoe, you’d thank him for saving you further embarrassment, right? Now, imagine if this same person, with the same helpful intentions, told you that you should try to improve your listening skills and be less assertive around others.
Sure, personal feedback can sting, but it stings a lot less when you trust that it comes with good, sincerely helpful intentions.
