Aah, feedback. Whether you love it or hate it, you’re gonna stumble upon it at some point. Feedback makes people feel seen and valued, and can have a great impact on a person’s confidence. Receiving feedback for your work is a great way to find the strengths and talents that you should keep focusing on, as well as outlining areas for improvement.
Most of the companies nowadays offer regular meetings with their employees, where they discuss their performance. But what if that’s not the case? Feedback is still important and every person deserves to receive a review of their work. Our team loves it when people are proactive and that’s why we’re giving you some tips on how to bite the bullet and ask for input yourself. Keep on reading.
It’s important to start with the right mentality - you’ve been working hard and you deserve to know whether you’re on the right track or not. Once you believe this, it gets easier.
How to ask your manager for feedback
Choose the moment
As with most things in life, timing is everything. Find a time slot when your manager is not putting out a fire or visibly stressed. Don’t forget you want their undivided attention and a clear head for maximum impact.
Prepare what you want to say
Practicing your speech is not a bad idea. Think of what you want to say in advance - be kind, but firm. You can start by saying a few words about the project you’re working on, as well as that you value your manager’s opinion, hence the reason you want to talk about their evaluation.
Focus on growth
When you ask for feedback, try to make it clear that your aim is growth and improvement. Say that you're determined to unleash your full potential and any insights they provide will be of great help.
Following the steps above will for sure help you get what you want, we know it. But what if the response you got is not as flattering as you expected?
Always remember - negative feedback is not a personal attack. It’s a map guiding you to the career treasure. Getting a negative critique it’s not the end of the world and here’s what you can do about it.
How to handle negative feedback
Confidence is key
Keep your head up, buddy. Don’t get sad and don’t go into details, if not asked. You need to show that you know how you can take constructive criticism like a champ.
Highlight areas for improvement
Focus on the good - negative feedback is an invitation to grow. Embrace the chance to learn and improve. Channel your inner superhero and transform failure into a stepping stone towards greatness.
Seek guidance
Speak with your manager about how to address the highlighted problems. This shows your commitment to growth and improvement. Scheduling regular meetings to check and discuss your progress is also a good idea.
We hope we have succeeded in highlighting the importance of feedback - it can be a great trampoline when it comes to career growth and you should not feel guilty or ashamed when asking for a response.
