The thing about feedback is that we say we want it, but we never really want to hear it. When it’s good, we dismiss it. When it’s bad, we reject it. Why is that?

Feedback is a gift. It is one person sharing with you, from their lens, how you are perceived by them. It takes a degree of trust and a desire to be in – or remain in – relationship for a person to reach out and give feedback. If I give you feedback, I am trusting that you will be able to take it in and handle it appropriately. And, if I didn’t care about the relationship, why would I bother to take the time and energy to give you feedback?

Think about the number of interactions we have with individuals throughout each day. Think about yesterday. Each interaction has an impact – either positively or negatively. The question is, did we have the impact we intended? And, truly, the only way to know is to receive the feedback.

For many, the first reaction we have when we’re told that our impact didn’t have the effect we intended is to blame the person giving us the feedback or to justify our actions. How likely do you think it is that we’ll continue to get feedback from that person?

Feedback is an opportunity for me to see if my actions and intentions are aligned. This requires two things. First that I am clear about my intentions; and, second, that I am able to objectively take in the persons perception.

I have learned, and continue to re-learn, that the power of feedback lies in what I choose to do with it.