The Currency of Growth: Seeking and Receiving Feedback
By Crystal Housewright
Feedback is like currency; it needs to circulate. — Laura Tacho, VP of Engineering and leadership coach
In a previous post, I shared insights on the art of giving feedback. Today I want to focus on seeking feedback. At ITHAKA, we recognize that a strong feedback culture is key to unlocking professional growth. In this post, we’ll explore practical techniques to encourage regular feedback, ensuring that everyone has the tools they need to flourish.
Asking for feedback
So, how do we get people to give us feedback in the first place? We must create an environment where people feel comfortable sharing their insights. Here are a few techniques that have helped us cultivate an open feedback culture.
- Ask ahead of time: Give people a heads-up before seeking feedback. This way, they can observe and reflect on the relevant aspects they want to address. As an example, when submitting a pull request, consider adding a note like, “I’ve encountered some complexity here, and I’d appreciate your thoughts and suggestions on the approach in this section.”
- Ask a specific question: Avoid generic requests for feedback and instead ask targeted questions that focus on a particular area where you want feedback. Being specific not only helps the person provide the right feedback but also aids in your targeted growth. For example, instead of saying, “Let me know if you have any feedback,” try something like, “I hosted a blameless postmortem. I’m working on meeting facilitation skills. In what ways did you feel that I demonstrated good facilitation skills, and in what ways might I improve?”
- Give yourself feedback first: Set an example by evaluating yourself first and sharing your own observations. This approach invites others to agree or disagree and encourages an open and constructive dialogue. For instance, “I felt my presentation didn’t land well, what did you think?”
- Ask around: Acknowledging feedback from others makes it safer for people to elaborate. Creating a collaborative atmosphere allows for open conversations, just as when paired programmers are debugging code. For example, “I got some feedback that my technical decision-making was unclear. Would you help me think about how I might use architectural decision records?”
Responding to feedback
Receiving feedback gracefully is just as important as asking for it. Ami Vora, chief product officer at Faire, suggests choosing one of two powerful responses that can help us accept feedback with an open mind:
- “Thank you.” Express sincere gratitude to those who take the risk of providing feedback. Appreciating their efforts creates a psychologically safe space, making it more likely that they will share valuable feedback in the future. Remember, people share feedback because they see our potential for growth, and their insights are valuable in our journey of improvement.
- “Say more.” Sometimes, we might feel the need to defend ourselves when faced with challenging feedback. Instead, embrace curiosity and ask for more details. This approach helps us gain deeper insights and encourages others to share more candid feedback.
Closing and reinforcing the feedback loop
Gathering feedback is just the beginning. To foster a robust feedback culture, we must close the loop effectively. Here’s how we do it at ITHAKA.
- Close the feedback loop: After receiving feedback, take the time to reflect and analyze how it has influenced your behavior. Transparency builds trust based on truth, which encourages an ongoing exchange of insights.
- Encourage more feedback: Encourage others to seek and provide feedback regularly. As we embrace feedback as a valuable resource, we can all contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and growth.
tl;dr
Imagine your immense growth potential if you received feedback early and often. At ITHAKA, we believe that fostering a feedback culture is not just a goal; it’s a way of life. It aligns with our core values, creating a psychologically safe space where everyone thrives.
Seek and embrace feedback with an open heart, and let’s work together to nurture a culture where feedback flows freely and fosters a successful community. After all, feedback is the currency of growth. We invite you to join us on the transformative journey.
So, when was the last time you received valuable feedback?
Interested in exploring engineering careers and remote software development jobs, Ann Arbor engineering jobs or New York edtech jobs with ITHAKA? Check out our ITHAKA jobs page to learn more and speak with recruiting.
