Feedback Strategies: Indian Epics

The two articles that I read really highlighted some of the same beliefs that I have about feedback. The two articles were How to Craft Constructive Feedback and Be a Mirror. I have always tried to be positive when I give others feedback. I have always tried to keep a positive mental attitude and not be negative in my feedback. It can be hard at times to constantly stay positive. I think that there is a nice balance when giving feedback. You should not be afraid to give suggestions, but you also do not want to make the receiver feel like their work is not good. I really liked what one of the articles suggested. It said to focus on what the reader is doing. It is sometimes easy to nitpick someone's work and look at what they do not have. Instead, we should focus on what they do have and give positive feedback based on that. Another great point that the first article made was to "suggest" what the creator might do. I find this one particularly useful especially when I am receiving feedback. 

My advice when giving feedback is to just be confident in offering suggestions while also being mindful of the person you are giving feedback to. You should put yourself in their shoes and think about what would be useful to you. I would like to try being more honest with the people I am giving feedback to. Overall, once you find a method that works for you just roll with it. 

(A photo of a man trying to provide feedback. Source: Flickr)

My Feedback Thoughts

The two articles that I read reiterated a lot of the same thoughts that I have about receiving feedback. The first article (Overcoming the Fear of Feedback) and second article (Eight things to do when you make a mistake) can be found in those links. I think that there was a lot of great information contained in the two different articles. I think a lot of people struggle with receiving feedback due to the fear or not being perfect. The first article really addresses ways to overcome this damaging habit. I used to even struggle with receiving feedback because I was afraid of failure. I did not like the idea of having to address something that I did not complete to my standards. The second article really had some great tips for adjusting to failure and receiving feedback positively. I really like the suggestion of figuring out what you did wrong. I think often times people do not like to address what went wrong in their process. It is actually very helpful to just analyze what you did and identify a way you can improve.

We should not be afraid to receive feedback. It can be an extremely helpful tool in improving our creative process. I have adjusted to receiving feedback over the years, and I think it is such a valuable tool when it comes to learning. I initially learned to receive feedback through athletics. I would always try to apply the things that my coaches were telling me to my game. It was hard at times to not be negative and down on myself, but I think it helped me immensely in the long run. I learned that it was all about having a positive mindset. I would seek out my professors my freshman year for help when I was struggling to grasp a concept. They would often offer their advice and help me adjust my method of preparation and problem solving. I learned that feedback was a necessary part of the process.

(A photo of different faces regarding feedback. Source: Pixaby)