Taking feedback means acknowledging that mistakes are there to learn from, not to make false assumptions about ourselves. Taking feedback means continual growth; seeing criticism as opportunity to learn; welcoming every opportunity to improve ourselves. It is one of the most useful life skills in the toolbox of creating a positive change.
As Boris Becker once said: "Feedback is breakfast of all champions." If you want to become an expert at taking feedback and accelerate the change in your life, you may find it useful to follow some of these simple tips:
1. Review your past mistakes or anything that you didn't succeed at, and ask yourself some of these questions:
What did I do well in that situation?What could I do better?What could I do more of?What could I do less of?What can I learn from this event?How can I make it better next time?
2. Ask your partner, kids or anyone who you want to improve your relationship with on weekly basis:
How would you rate our relationship in past week from 1-10?If they say anything less than 10, follow this up with another question: What would have to happen so it would be 10?Make a commitment and take action based on suggestions you get.
3. Use the same questions for any area you want to improve at. Ask your boss to rate your performance in the last month and to give you suggestions for improvement. Ask your audience to give you feedback on your presentation. Ask attendees of your meeting to give you feedback on the quality of the meeting.
4. If you are in business, go and ask your 'no' clients the reason for refusing your product or service. Simply call them and ask them for feedback. Ask them what prevented them from purchasing your product or service. Ask them for suggestions. While this exercise can be a real stretch from comfort zone for some, it is one of the simplest business building tools around.
5. If you want to be in loving relationship and find that everyone you're with for a while leaves you, use the above principles and ask your ex for a feedback. That is, if you dare and care!
6. When someone is criticising you, look beyond harsh words and facial expressions. Perhaps they do not use the most appropriate language (i.e. pressing your buttons!), they probably would not care to criticise you if they didn't care about you. What positive message can you take from this? What can you learn so you can improve for the future?
7. If you care about growing your business, ask some of your most loyal customers these questions on yearly basis:
Why did you become our customer in the first place? Why do you do business with us?What do you like most about our business?Are there any other products or services you would like to see us offer?If you could have anything you wanted from us, what would it be?What do you like least about our business?
8. And finally, if you want to make a massive change in any area of your life quicker than you thought was possible, give yourself an honest feedback! Ask yourself:
How did I allow (or am allowing) this to happen?What am I doing that is working?What am I doing that is not working?What do I need to be doing more of in order to succeed?What do I need to be doing less of?
Assuming one hundred percent responsibility for our future comes with willingness to accept our mistakes, learn from them and move on. And it doesn't matter how many times you get a feedback, or how harsh pill it is to swallow sometimes. It doesn't matter how many times you find yourself off course in relation to what you want. If you only diligently keep asking for feedback and act upon it, you will eventually end up exactly where you want to be. It is the mastery of feedback taking, and mastery of life.
Lenka Majstrikova is an expert author, Trainer and Master Practitioner of NLP, Time Line Therapy? & Hypnosis, personal change facilitator and an absolute believer in the magnificence of every human being. She is a Founder and Managing Director of Ultimate Mind ( http://www.ultimatemind.co.uk/ ), dynamic training company delivering accredited training courses in NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) for personal and professional development.
Lenka has helped many people to live their life exactly as they want it through her courses and seminars, where she shares the revolutionary knowledge, skills and techniques necessary for creating success in life & work.
Join Lenka on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ultimatemind to find more of inspirational articles and tips for living happy, healthy and prosperous life.
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