The Challenge of Feedback
The topic of feedback in the workplace (and in other areas of social interaction) was discussed today in class. Professor Piderit placed emphasis on the nature of feedback being very difficult. What I am beginning to ponder, however, is for whom feedback is more difficult: the giver or the receiver. Clearly, the answer depends on the qualities of each party involved. A successful giver of feedback is often outgoing, assertive, and mindful and not passive and careless. On the other hand, I think the best receiver is a listener who can remove emotions from the situation. A receiver who cannot step back and objectively evaluate the delivered feedback will have a more difficult time making use of the feedback. As I move forward in life, I will attempt to take this knowledge and use it to both take feedback in the most useful way possible and to give it as well.
Comments
Posted by: Jayanti
Posted on: November 9, 2006 06:00 PM
Hi John,
I agree with your views on feedback. Our discussion in class was interesting and I would definitely use the approaches to receive and give feedback in the future. Although certain people fear feedback, I believe that there are ways to overcome such fear. When I receive feedback in the future, I would recognize and analyze emotions, get support, possibly reframe feedback and create my own incentives and actions. At the same time, I think that the SAFE approach is always a good way of giving feedback to people.
Posted by: Matthew Gardner
Posted on: November 9, 2006 11:47 PM
Good points, John. It is interesting to think that some of the biggest problems involved in feedback are the result of emotions. Watching an episode of Survivor reveals many of these problems. People place blame and spread hate instead of being constructive. If the Giver of feedback is involved in the situation, this are more complicated. If the Receiver of feedback perceives the Giver as distancing him/herself from the incident, the Receiver may become less willing to accept the feedback. I think the responsibility falls on the Giver of feedback to determine the most appropriate means of providing the feedback and incurs some of the responsibility for the receiver's reaction.