Pricing

Why Feedback Will Help Your Professional Development

Andy Robinson
June 30, 2015

Feedback, in the world of business, is the breakfast of champions. Feedback "feeds" us - it's at the top of the food pyramid for learning and professional development. Related: 3 Steps To Create Your Own Career Development Plan How often do you ASK for feedback? Feedback can be humbling, it can be eye-opening, and it can bring awareness to us of things that we're simply "blind" to... but if we don't ask for it, we usually don't receive it - particularly the constructive form. Many or most people will give us positive feedback, but very few will give us honest, candid feedback focused on how we can improve or how we can get better; things we SHOULD change or do differently. Make ASKING for feedback a habit. Seek feedback from others:

  • Following a meeting in which you participated
  • After a presentation you've given
  • In follow up to a networking event
  • Anytime you're in front of others
Ask an observer - a colleague, a friend, a peer, a direct report, a panel member, or a participant:
  • How you did, overall
  • Was your message clear?
  • Did you seem to listen well?
  • Was your body language in alignment with your message?
  • Did you seek input from others?
  • Did you show respect for others' time?
  • Did you leave a positive impression?
  • Were you friendly?
Seeking feedback communicates a clear message that you care, that personal excellence is important to you, and that learning and getting better is important to you. Feedback is a highly effective learning tool, but like any other tool, if left in the toolbox, it does you NO good. Use it. Solicit feedback... often. Make feedback a habit. This post was originally published at an earlier date.

Related Posts

Career Development Feedback Or Feedforward? 3 Career Development Tips That Will Get You Ahead Of The Competition How To Create Your Unique Career Plan   Photo Credit: Shutterstock
career development feedback habit

Help! My Co-Worker Took Credit For Work I Did...What Do I Do?

In this week's episode of "Well This Happened", we want to know what you would do if your co-worker took credit for the work you did...right in front of your colleagues AND boss!

We want YOU to be the career coach and tell us which one is the RIGHT answer!

Think you know? Vote below, and stay tuned for later this week when we announce the right answer (and why the other ones are wrong).

SHOW MORE Show less

Yikes! Here's How To Handle A Hiring Manager Mocking A Candidate

If you saw our first video, you might have heard about the awkward situation one of our viewers, Cam submitted. He's been working at a job for awhile, but recently overheard a hiring manager making fun of a candidate with autism right after an interview-not only awkward, but VERY unprofessional!

SHOW MORE Show less

3 Reasons Why Companies Like Cisco Want Their Employees To Have A Life Outside Of Work

We work to live, not live to work, right? So, shouldn't that be something that is ingrained in the DNA at every company? People have lives outside of work, and it's important that companies recognize and value that.

SHOW MORE Show less

Hiring Manager Makes Fun Of A Candidate After A Job Interview

In this week's episode of "Well This Happened", we want to know what you would do if witnessed a hiring manager at your organization making fun of a candidate who they had just interviewed who had autism.

We want YOU to be the career coach and tell us which one is the RIGHT answer!

Think you know? Vote below, and stay tuned for later this week when we announce the right answer (and why the other ones are wrong).

SHOW MORE Show less

Does Your Employer Offer #PaternityLeave? Check Out These Great Companies For Working Dads

Starting a family is one of the biggest milestones in a person's life. It's in those first few months when a parent can really bond with their newborn and make lifelong memories. However, for some new dads, it can be difficult to juggle being a new parent while remaining dedicated to their career.

Fortunately, some companies have generous paternity leave policies that give new dads the ability to take time off of work to stay home with their child.

SHOW MORE Show less

Answers To Commonly Asked Resume Questions

There are LOTS of questions around resume dos and don'ts. There's so much advice out there that it can be overwhelming to try and figure out what's the correct answer.

During our weekly live Office Hours on YouTube, two of our coaches, Ariella Coombs and J.T. O'Donnell, answer questions live from viewers related to their job search, career success, on the job situations and more.

We complied a simple list of what we find to be the most common questions our coaches get about resumes. We hope you find this helpful.

Let's start with the basics...

SHOW MORE Show less

We Are Deleting Our Private Facebook Group (Despite Having 37K Members)

Back in March, we made the hard decision to change our private Facebook group of over 37 THOUSAND members to a fee-based only platform.

SHOW MORE Show less

Called A Day Early For My Interview, What Do I Do?

In this week's episode of "Well This Happened", we want to know what you would do if a recruiter called you a day EARLY for your phone interview (and you were NOT PREPARED!)

We want YOU to be the career coach and tell us which one is the RIGHT answer!

Think you know? Vote below, and stay tuned for later this week when we announce the right answer (and why the other ones are wrong).

SHOW MORE Show less

Here's How To Deal With *That* Co-Worker!

If you caught our last video in our latest series, "Well This Happened..." you heard about the problem one of our viewers is having with their co-worker. To recap, they have a colleague that overshares a little too much, and they weren't sure how to go about addressing this. We had some great responses from our viewers on how they think our friend should handle this. Check out the answer below and let us know if you guessed right or not!

SHOW MORE Show less

How To Negotiate The Salary You Deserve

Negotiating salary can be a scary, intimidating experience. However, if you go in prepared, it doesn't have to be that way - you can confidently negotiate for a salary you deserve. But how?

SHOW MORE Show less