Feedback Thoughts
Needless to say, feedback is vital to the revision process. Without receiving (and applying) constructive criticism, we aren't able to incorporate valuable insights from those who possess different world views, abilities, and ideas -- all of which enrich our final product.
But criticism isn't always easy to take. Like Tim Herrera says, we tend to personalize negative feedback. Rather than remembering that peer feedback is given in good faith, we dread getting that "C" -- because we've been taught that results are more important than the growth process. The Dweck idea of the "Growth Mindset" is valuable because it teaches us to view failure as an opportunity to improve, rather than an opportunity to look foolish in front of our colleagues.
John Spencer expands on this idea by recommending that we stop viewing feedback as a competition between us and our peers. When someone thinks our work can be better, it's easy to close ourselves off and seek quick validation by comparing ourselves to the crowd. However, if we can keep our comparisons personal -- trying to be be better than our previous best, not our neighbor's -- we can cultivate a more positive, accessible community of colleagues.
Growth is almost impossible without feedback. John McEnroe didn't pick up a racquet (and a sweet headband) for the first time and start blistering serves over the net -- he had help from people who knew better ways to do what he was trying to do. Behind every great athlete is a great coach, behind every author is an editor, behind every musician is a tutor... You get the idea. While it might sting in the moment to hear that you could be better, you'll reap rewards in the future if you can learn to apply helpful feedback and improve your product.
But criticism isn't always easy to take. Like Tim Herrera says, we tend to personalize negative feedback. Rather than remembering that peer feedback is given in good faith, we dread getting that "C" -- because we've been taught that results are more important than the growth process. The Dweck idea of the "Growth Mindset" is valuable because it teaches us to view failure as an opportunity to improve, rather than an opportunity to look foolish in front of our colleagues.
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| Source: Cheezburger. |
John Spencer expands on this idea by recommending that we stop viewing feedback as a competition between us and our peers. When someone thinks our work can be better, it's easy to close ourselves off and seek quick validation by comparing ourselves to the crowd. However, if we can keep our comparisons personal -- trying to be be better than our previous best, not our neighbor's -- we can cultivate a more positive, accessible community of colleagues.
Growth is almost impossible without feedback. John McEnroe didn't pick up a racquet (and a sweet headband) for the first time and start blistering serves over the net -- he had help from people who knew better ways to do what he was trying to do. Behind every great athlete is a great coach, behind every author is an editor, behind every musician is a tutor... You get the idea. While it might sting in the moment to hear that you could be better, you'll reap rewards in the future if you can learn to apply helpful feedback and improve your product.
Hi Spencer,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. I know for me, when I was younger, it was definitely hard to take feedback because I was so set on being perfect. It was only after realizing that feedback makes us even better that I started to incorporate it. Society in the U.S. is always so focused on the end product that we often see feedback as a negative thing. We kind of saw this same idea in the growth mindset part. You are so far ahead! Go you!!