The power of feedback

I recently wrote about the value of having a mentor (link), and one of the reasons is that as we get older, we receive less feedback. Think about your typical working week compared to when you were at school; you're unlikely to receive a report card on Friday afternoon telling you you scored 14/20 with a list of areas of improvement for the following week.

As we become busier with more significant responsibilities, we often get caught up in the daily grind of work and find less time to reflect on our progress. But it is important to receive regular feedback to help us identify areas where we need improvement and where we excel across all domains of life.

The importance of regular feedback

Asking for and receiving regular feedback can help us grow both personally and professionally in the following ways:

1. Self-awareness and identifying blindspots - Help us identify areas of weakness and avoid repeating mistakes

2. Spot growth opportunities - Identify areas of strength to explore or double down on

3. Accountability - We stay accountable for taking actions to address feedback someone has given us

4. Confidence - Positive feedback can boost confidence and reinforce positive actions and habits

5. Build better relationships - Show others we value their opinions by asking them for feedback

Think about life outside of work

The above list may sound extremely obvious to anybody with a job, especially given that an annual review process (at a minimum) is a standard part of development at work. However, I would argue that an annual review is rarely frequent enough if we seek maximum growth.

But do you think the above terms when it comes to your broader life outside of work? Unfortunately, few of us follow the same formal and structured approach to self-assessment and feedback regarding our broader lives.

It can be awkward to ask for feedback from friends and family, particularly when asking for negatives and areas of improvement. However, if we don’t, we may miss out on significant growth opportunities in our lives outside of work.

Implementation idea

Conduct a self-review of your performance across all the key aspects of your life, and then seek feedback from a range of people for each area.

When asking for feedback, it's essential to ask for actionable feedback that you can use to improve. Be specific about what you want feedback on. Ask open-ended questions that encourage detailed and specific responses. Request both positive and negative feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Take the emotion out of it and remind yourself and the person giving the feedback that this is an essential exercise in your personal development.

Best, Alex Joshi.

On my bedside table:

• Non-fiction: Principles by Ray Dalio (link)

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