Ever notice your body’s reaction prior to your performance review? Speaker evaluation? Pay attention to your heart rate, whether or not you are holding your breath or feeling your deodorant beginning to work overtime! Why do we fear feedback? Is it possible that we do not know how to process it or rebound from it when it is less than stellar?
My first 25 years working as a clinical dental hygienist had me fear feedback every day from patients! Their feedback rarely had anything to do with my clincal skills or the ability to provide the services within my legal scope of practice. The comments that were “zingers” were based upon opinion of their fear, anxiety, or experience.
So how do you apply negative feedback successfully?
Ask yourself if the comment directly applies to your job performance or if it is a zinger. Here’s a simple check list to refer to when reading a less than stellar comment on your job performance. (1) does this refer to the content or job you were hired to do (2) crossing the line regarding code of ethics or your moral compass (3) anything illegal happen and finally, (4) is it life threatening to anyone. Most often, it will be how you may hone your content or job skill sets. Embrace that!
The “zingers” are constricted opinions that hold zero relevance to your professional and financial growth. Give the “zingee” a hug or food if they are hangry and then shake it off. You’ve got something better to accomplish than planning for a pity party. Last week’s vlog shares some examples of my own recent “zingers”
Negative feedback is not a monster. It is designed for your growth and productivity in your career. It empowers you to gain ground on a weaker skill set and strengthen it.
3 steps to successfully apply negative feedback are;
1) Breathe. Before your meeting / performance review, get an index care out with the word Breathe on it and look at it. Breathe in positivity and exhale anxiety to gift your body’s reaction to a state of openness, calm, centered.
2) Receive. Yes, it is always nice to know you hit your goal, delivered an outstanding program. Now, receive the not so good. Recognize the difference between what holds promise for your growth and what holds an empty opinion. Before moving on to the 3rd step, revisit the encouraging feedback to compare it with your checklist above. This action adjusts your mindset, driving you forward to hone skill sets for success.
3) Believe. Take the fact that we have areas that are not our strongest assets. Mine, for example, is organization. Living with ADHD, it is a struggle to remember where my keys are let alone get to an email response on time. Believe in yourself no matter what. Surround yourself with people to help you achieve this goal. Hire a coach, bookkeeper, virtual assistant, video editor, etc. to be on your team. Be accountable to set realistic timelines with the expectation that you will have strengthened that area and it will be noticeable in your business. Soon you will “Be-Leaving” what may have held you back! Using this 3-step system is an emotionally healthy approach that will add value to your career, advance you past prior skill sets or zingers and empower you to live an abundantly productive life!
Take What You Learn & Make A Difference With It
Anastasia
Motivational Speaker | Health Empowerment 