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What type of feedback do you seek in your work and on your ideas and from whom do you seek it?
I find that people vary greatly in whether they like or seek feedback on their work and ideas. Some novice artists, for example, seek feedback on technique or composition from a mentor while others keep distant from any sort of input for fear of its stifling their originality and voice.
In conversation or discussion, some people like others to probe their thoughts and scrutinize their arguments critically, while others find such scrutiny too "academic" or heavy.
Some people seek and prefer feedback only from those with expertise in their field and others deliberately seek the popular view or a view from people from different interdisciplinary backgrounds or social contexts.
In what circumstances do you appreciate feedback, from whom, and of what type?
george lockwood 30+
Maaybe lawyers are the same way. I haven't done family law in an awful long time or represented
preditors of small children in a long time. There is a great deal of badness out there. Why not
avoid it. There are lots of really bad people,and maybe it hurts one who meets them. Maybe, it
might rub off. Be Happy.
Debra Smith 200+
Debra Smith 200+
george lockwood 30+
older I like to argue less and less. In something like family law the person who makes the most
unrealistic and less successful arguements can make the most money. I guess my mother ruined me
by taking me to something called Sunday School often. Of course , we bill by the hour in such matters
not by the results.
Debra Smith 200+
Perhaps what is often expected, whether explicitly considered or not, is that we expect people to surrender their way of thinking for ours because we think we earned that right through proven educational success. Just consider what it would take to allow you to capitulate your own assessment of things. Of course, you would think that if someone consulted a professional they would be ready to listen BUT maybe they just arrived at a place of impass and want you to get them passed that point. Our job, in every circumstance is to make the truth more compelling than their illusion. That puts the responsibility squarely back on our shoulders. But hey= remember I am a mom and we are almost all big on getting our kids to shoulder their responsibilites with clear vision and we get paid the big bucks for it- at least the buck -fair or not- usually stops with us!
Alison Taylor
I do however find that negative feedback in the healthcare setting (whether from colleagues or clients) will always surface briskly, whether you seek it or not; and often harshly, as opposed to as constructive criticism.
What I feel is lacking in my profession (and perhaps this occurs in others) is positive feedback from one another (between both nurses and between health professionals), I feel during nurse handover we should exploit the opportunity to commend our fellow staff on their good work, or acknowledge that they have had a very difficult day. This would promote a feeling of success and enjoyment in our field of work, which often (unfortunately) can be a very unenjoyable and taxing profession. Basically I always seek out feedback, and if it is on how I could improve....it would be more beneficial if delivered 'kindly'.
Perhaps naïvely, I think both the enthusiasm with which we approach our work, and the longevity of our stay in the profession would increase if we took the time to give one another a simple pat on the back, and were thoughtful in the way we approached administering feedback.
Colleen Steen 500+
I think/feel that you have touched on a MOST important part of feedback. People are often quick to judge our actions critically and harshly. I agree that positive feedback is lacking in all aspects of life. Commending each other for good work and acknowledging our efforts is always a boost for all of us. And as you say...it promotes a feeling of success, and enjoyment. I totally agree that the enthusiasm with which we approach our work and other life activities is a very important part of the life experience.
Most of my life, I am grateful to have an abundance of positive feedback, which has empowered me to move forward with enthusiasm on the life journey. I also GIVE a lot of pats on the back, and intentionally try to recognize the opportunities to do so. Could there be a connection? I believe so...what goes around comes around...give unto others...be what we want to see...It is a most enjoyable cycle that we can nurture in every possible moment:>)
Luke Hobbs
Fritzie Reisner 100+
george lockwood 30+
just look weird and blow you off..
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Colleen Steen 500+
When people appear to look weird/puzzled and blow me off, it gives me the feedback that they don't want to hear what I am saying. That, for me, would be the end of the conversation, because blowing me off gives me feedback indicating that they are not interested in what I am saying.
If someone appears to look puzzled and asks questions, giving me the feedback that they are interested and confused by what I am saying, then I would continue with the conversation.
This is what I mentioned in a previous comment on this thread...we can "feel" feedback in every interaction.
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Social interaction consists very much of gathering cues and misunderstandings of misreading them. Other animals also gather such cues, as we know, with dogs being excellent at cross species cue reading.
Colleen Steen 500+
No offence intended George:>)
I agree...social interaction consists of gathering cues and clues. Yes, I believe other animals gather such cues/clues, instinctively. I believe we have the ability to gather more information as well, when we are open to intuition and instinct. This is what I refer to when speaking about an underlying sense of feedback with each interaction.
I've had some wonderful "conversations" with people who speak a totally different language. I think communication is something like 65% body language, is it not? So, the actual words and tone impact our interactions to some extent, but I think body language is more important...what do you think?
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Colleen Steen 500+
Fritzie Reisner 100+
The internet is full of well-meant advice from people who want to help but actually have no expertise on the matter on which they give feedback. In a variety of settings also one finds people whose feedback is more connected to their private interests than to best-practice or expertise in the matter at hand. People may campaign aggressively for your taking a different point of view or changing something you are doing without having a truly constructive mindset.
António Zhu
Another important thing I want to mention it is about who gives you feedback. Well depending on the type of tasks i am doing. Lets say that if I am working in a marketing department I would love to know what customers think about our campaigns. While if I am in a more technical field I would say that I like to hear the opinion of the more experienced people.
I think we should try to filter the information as much as possible. So we do need to be flexible to the point to make correct adjustments to improve our performance, however not all opinions need to take into account because there are way to many people talking.
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Lindsay Newland Bowker 50+
To seek or need approva or nay kind of feedback l is distorting.
Of course, the caveat is there must always be a complete surrender to service to life, to humanity. Without thisias the internal gyrsocope, it all falls apart.
As a youngster, I must say though, that having a "patron" someone more important and bigger than I backing me up never hurt. But I think I wouldn't have had that support if I had not been true to myself.
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Lindsay Newland Bowker 50+
Yes, I do Fritzie.
To need or seek feedback is egoic and distorting which of course precludes the very high order human experience of collaboration.
We are taught in the western world to measure ourselves by the praise of others whether in words of economics ( promotions and pay raises) so it is hard to come by even the possibility of an entirely different approach to what we allow to drive our thoughts, our speech, our actions.
I think we would all do better and achieve more if collaboration were cultivated from our earliest socialization and education.
Like every one else, I wasted years and years expecting and reveling in being the most favorite in class or on the job, to being praised and valued for my achievements and abilities, to receiving feed back for that in praise and in $.
Maybe that's just how it is" entre la jeunesse et la sagesse "
It took a long long while, but I am glad, however late in life it came and however I came by it to know the joy of collaboration and the of freedom from the need for feedback.
What do you think? Am I being to hard on the merits of seeking and needing feedback? helpful/healthy to need feedback?
Fritzie Reisner 100+
When a person puts forward a position, it may be strongly held, or it may be a work in progress. Sometimes a strongly held view is actually wrong, but as it is strongly held, the person may not seek feedback on his argument. One could almost say that not being interested in feedback is egoic. Discussions degenerate or can be quite unproductive if the parties do not want their reasoning picked apart by other thoughtful people. Again, being open to the possibility of being wrong and seeking out feedback from thoughtful others in reaction to ones own view and argument are not praise seeking behavior.
Seeking a response to a work in progress is not necessarily praise-seeking either.
I do think that those who are not interested in entertaining other people's views in order potentially change theirs, or those not interested in feedback on their design for the landscaping of a large garden, will have trouble collaborating.
Lindsay Newland Bowker 50+
And of course I would not consider a teaching or mentoring relationship to be about "feedback". I consider that more "teaching"..I am seeking instruction and guidance to acquire a skill when I seek a teacher. Of course I want to know if I am"doing it right"..otherwise..why seek out a teacher.
Perhaps in framing your question, you were using "feedback" in a much mbroader and generalized sense than I use or think about that word.
I perhaps wrongly associate the word "feedback" , the process of seeking feedback as a more needy, self centered. egoic process..something different than what goes in collaboration.
And of course undertaking something for someone else..making a dress 9 what a lovely thing to do for another), volunteering in their garden or kitchen we want to seek guidance out of courtesy or approval.
So if your definition of "feedback" includes the exchange and sharing of collaboration, and the courtesy and respect of seeking guidance when you are serving or assisting another, I would agree these are no egoic in any way.
So it is the quality and intent of "seeking feedback"
My own sense of the word "feedback" implies one way..from the other to self and not necessarily and mutual or compassionate engagement of the other.
Colleen Steen 500+
I appreciate all feedback, from anyone, any type, any time. I feel that all information provided with feedback is valuable, so I listen carefully, evaluate how it may be relevant to me, and use the feedback....or not. In general, I do not intentionally seek feedback, because I believe there is feedback on many different levels, in every single conversation and interaction I have with everyone all the time.
In conversations/discussions, I like to be engaged in a way that is comfortable for the other participant(s), because I am comfortable with any type of communication. I enjoy probing thoughts and ideas if that seems comfortable to participants, I like participating by question/answers, with intent to learn, and I also realize that this type of communication is not comfortable for some folks.
I try to be aware of the communication styles of others, and participate in a way that will offer him/her the opportunity to communicate as s/he is comfortable. This facilitates an interaction in which there is feedback openly and freely.
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Colleen Steen 500+
Yes, it is true for me in all aspects of life. My workplace, creative endeavors and service oriented experiences are often all interconnected.
In one phase of the life experience, I was a professional actor, so I got lots of reactions, feedback and critique constantly, without seeking it.
I owned an antique business and refinished/reconstructed furniture...again...plenty of feedback regarding my work without seeking it!
I owned and managed elderly subsidized (by the state) housing...performance reports were generated regurlarly, and feedback/critique offered without seeking it. If I didn't do the job well, there would be no subsidy....I understood that.
With all the volunteer work I did in social services agencies, I was given positive feedback without seeking it. I knew that if I was not performing as expected, I would not be invited back!
Now that I am retired, gardening is a passion. The only feedback I need is to look at people's faces when they enter the gardens:>) As I said, I believe with each and every interaction, we get feedback...IF...we are open to the possibilities and really listening carefully and mindfully aware:>)
One GREAT lesson my parents taught me, is when a job or task is finished, look back and evaluate it...ask yourself what you think about your work...how you have completed the task. I'm sure that this practice in myself has influenced my work experiences, creative endeavors and service projects:>)
Fritzie Reisner 100+
As others have said, feedback in no way replaces most people's own evaluation of their work. Most people consider it alongside their own evaluations.
Colleen Steen 500+
Fritzie Reisner 100+
I have also known people, though, who are so confident that they are right (even when they are not) that they just plow forward with their plan without seeking any input!
Colleen Steen 500+
I agree...there are those who may not solicit feedback or show their work because they lack confidence.
There are those who are so confident that they are right and they just plow forward regardless of what is going on around them.
There are people who are balanced regarding confidence/lack of confidence, and intuit how to use skills in different ways:>)
For example, when I mediated with convicted felons and facilitated cognitive self change sessions with incarcerated offenders, it would not have been helpful to appear too overly confident. It was important to make a connection with them before we could move on to the task at hand, so I stifled the appearence of confidence a bit to accomplish my goal.
When advocating for children in state custody, I allowed more confidence to peek through and manifest itseld in my interactions because those kids needed a confident advocate.
I think I have a bit of a balance...you see? As I said, when we intuit/feel underlying messages, needs, goals, etc., and put aside power differences, we can be more effective in our own lives, and in the lives of those we interact with:>)
Fritzie Reisner 100+
For example, some artists or writers are interested only in self expression and do not consider matters of audience, others want to communicate only with an elite audience and don't care about the rest, and others care whether therir message has come through to a broad audience.
I believe when you expose your work to people and listen for feedback, that is the same in most cases as seeking feedback.
Colleen Steen 500+
Whether or not we seek feedback and/or how we deal with it, is often influenced by personality, values, perceptions, wants and needs. I believe that when we expose ourselves to life, there will probably be feedback in one way or another:>) We can actively seek it...or not.
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Often the person whose job description specifies that he should give feedback or coaching actually has neither the technical skills nor personal traits to provide such services. I have experienced this in the workplace. A "coach" was brought in to work with a high functioning department of eight people on fine-tuning their practice. I don't know how this person was screened or selected for the job. Within two years the ENTIRE department, which had historically been very low turnover, left for other jobs. Only at this point did the coach leave- I don't know whether self-initiated or fired.
Debra Smith 200+
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Debra Smith 200+
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Karthikeyan Ramakrishnan
Thanks
Karthikeyan Ramakrishnan
Fritzie Reisner 100+
I have always found it extremely valuable to confer about particular students with people who serve the same stiudent.
Debra Smith 200+
In addition, I have a cadre of close friends that I ask for feedback and more and more that includes the TED community when I want a wider perspective on issues which are crucial to me.
R H 20+
Linda Woodard
Now on a different level, when I had problems with a certain topic, I of course would go to my colleagues, and they would help me, esp. since I am a "big picture" person and knew what I wanted but didn't quite know how to get there. :-) And when I would have trouble with a class, I would have a colleague come in and be an objective observer in order to see things I wasn't seeing, and it was always beneficial.
The only time I really didn't always appreciate "feedback" was when I would be evaluated by our administration, for at times, I took umbrage as to what they would say or suggest, for being former math or science teachers, their approaches would be totally different than mine would be, and it was frustrating.
But overall, I would welcome suggestions as I was one teacher who was always wanting to improve in order to reach more students. However, that is part of my personality as well, for we had many teachers who wouldn't ask for any help/suggestions/feedback and shared nothing; and their classrooms were like their castle and they were the royalty....
Amy Peach
Linda Woodard
And glad to read, too, that you are open and do rely on your "communities of interest" in your quest to be the best you can be. I know as being a "team leader" that when a teacher thinks he/she is the king or queen of his castle/classroom, they are not as effective (not a team player....grrrr) as they could be.
Hope you enjoy your summer. :-)
Derek Young 30+
On social issues, I want feedback from everybody from all walks of life.
Fritzie Reisner 100+
In communities of art hobbyists, in contrast, it is perhaps more typical for every piece of work shared to be showered with praise. Some people in the community love and expect this, and some feel it makes actual growth to mastery hard. They want real feedback but won't get it from the people to whom they are showing their work.
The bottom line is that when you ask for feedback, some people are just accustomed from their discipline or culture to deliver it straight and others slightly sugar-coated. Both probably mean only well by it.
Derek Young 30+
So the preface of the meeting is almost crucial for me, and as they say "first impressions are important". I wish people would ease into critiques and not find everything a subject of critique, but any publicly visible and is meant for large audiences should expect critiques and comments of every spectrum.
george lockwood 30+
Fritzie Reisner 100+
If a person's work is in, say, theater, people watch and listen during rehearsals and shows.
If a person is a painter, people may watch or listen as well if the person talks while working or pauses to think about what to do next as part of the painting. Thinking aloud is working. Thinking without speaking is also working..
A writer or person in academic life probably doesn't talk while writing but may pause to discuss work with someone, in which case people listen. The academic or writer is working even when the pen is not moving.
People working in a laboratory may well talk and troubleshoot together during the experiment and certainly may talk about a person's interpretation of conclusions.
Karthikeyan Ramakrishnan
Fritzie Reisner 100+
R H 20+
Fritzie Reisner 100+
In terms of the specific question of feedback, do you do any kind of work that requires a road test of any kind or that can benefit in its development from road tests at various stages?
R H 20+
Fritzie Reisner 100+
R H 20+
Fritzie Reisner 100+
I have often worked in situations in which a second set of eyes must look at something before it is delivered. Those eyes may be a second colleague's at my same level or a manager. Other times I have worked in a situation in which no one looks at what I am doing unless I ask for input.
With students in school we distinguish between formative and summative evaluation. Formative is the sort that looks at work at various checkpoints to identify what the student understands well and where specifically understanding could be improved. Summative evaluation can be the same, though in too many cases students are evaluated with a grade at the end without any sort of formative feedback along the way.
Debra Smith 200+
R H 20+
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Mireille Chéry
Furthermore, I ask people that I trust, that I know want my success, or somehow will benefit from it, because you want the truth.
At the end, the ball is always in your court, meaning, you know deep in your heart, that the idea is great and achievable, best way is : follow your heart and your guts and go with it!!
Cheers
David Gorniak
With that in mind i welcome any feed back that is informative, critical or elaborative. I appreciate comments from the masterminds of the field that i am diverging in, just as much as I appreciate comments from people who have just as much as a clue as i do. I find that a lot of the time those people can ask very original questions.
In conlusion i look for commentators who appreciate my curiosity and who are patient with my scope of knowledge.
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Terry Haynes
You are humble and that is refreshing. You are alot smarter and wiser than you what you think. Nobody knows it all. For me I love to learn new things and as well as sharing what I have learned. TED.com has been a experiment for me. Partly to share my ideas and opinions and partly to learn and partly to to study people thru their comments. I have received and studied positive and negative comments posted on this site for a while. What I have noticed is most comments are pretty good and helpfull. Some comments have not been done with courtesy and respect. But that is to be expected.With that said, Its still a excellent platform to seek and share knowledge. I try to make my comments understandable to all and not talk over people heads. There are good and knowledgable people on TED.com and its a good place to ask questions and seek answers. And share Ideas worth spreading. There are no dumb questions when you do not know the answer. Hopefully the response you get helps. Keep a open mind and you will be surprised what you can learn.
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Kevin Jacobson
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Kevin Jacobson
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Kevin Jacobson