To be successful in business you need to develop a thick skin, so receiving feedback is great training for that. There's something special about being the least experienced in the room, so be a sponge to feedback. My favourite trick to embrace feedback: I remind myself that once I finished a project I'm a different person than I was before. So that feedback is directed at a past version of me, not the me right now.

Welcoming critique rather than fearing it is foundational for professional growth. Adopt a Growth Mindset: Viewing critique as a valuable resource for improvement rather than a personal attack can make it easier to accept and act on. Ask for Specific Examples: When receiving feedback, request specific examples to understand the critique fully. Seek Feedback Actively: Don’t wait for feedback; actively seek it out from peers, supervisors, and mentors. Create a Feedback-Friendly environment that values and respects everyone's input. Encourage an open dialogue where feedback is regularly exchanged.

It's important to get clarity on the feedback you received. Truly understand what you are hearing back and if it resonates with you. Getting clarity ensures you don't have blind spots and assumptions on what you think you heard. Paraphrase it back in a way that you understand it to be and the person giving you the feedback knows you understood.

Experience doesn't become learning without reflection. Journaling is the best way to do this. So here are some ideas of what to write about: âž¡ What specifically was said? âž¡ What were your immediate emotional reactions? âž¡ How did you outwardly respond to the feedback? âž¡ Was this different from your internal reaction? âž¡ What beliefs or insecurities might it have triggered? âž¡ Do you notice any patterns in how you typically react? âž¡ What aspects of the feedback, if any, do you agree with? Why? âž¡ What aspects do you disagree with? Why? âž¡ What specific skill do you want to improve based on this feedback? âž¡ Imagine receiving similar feedback in the future. How would you ideally like to feel and respond?

Understanding and receiving feedback with an open mind allows you to get a different perspective. Seeing different perspectives can help you take the action steps needed to make the necessary changes. Create a plan with measurable improvements and continue getting feedback as you progress and take action. This will help you grow and improve and develop on your skills.

Once you receive the feedback, it's important to apply the necessary changes that help benefit from the feedback. Sometimes it's hard to hear or see the changes required when we are so close to the situation. This is why feedback helps us get a different perspective and see it from all angles. Ask for feedback, receive it with an open mind, and make the necessary changes from the feedback received. This will help you grow and improve

Regularly gauging your progress based on feedback received is essential to ensure you are on the right track towards your professional goals. Set Measurable Goals: Based on the feedback, set specific, measurable goals aligned with your broader career objectives. Review Regularly: Set regular intervals to review your progress against these goals. This could be monthly or quarterly reviews where you assess what’s working and what’s not. Adjust Strategies: If certain actions aren’t leading to improvement, consider different approaches or seek additional feedback on better addressing the issue. Document Your Journey: Record the feedback received and the steps you’ve taken to address it.

This is just a mini side-note: ❌ Do NOT embrace critique from ill-intentioned people. Evaluate if you value feedback from this person because you want to be like them in some aspect. If you don't, you are allowed to ignore it too. ✅ Another great way to utilise feedback for professional growth is to learn what feedback to disregard as noise or projection by other people.

I like to thing of feedback as a gift, it should be normalised and not seen as 'performance review'. However, at the end of the day, it is your choice who's feedback you're taking on and acting on. Pay attention who's offering it. In the words of Alex Hormozi 'If they don't have what you want, don't listen to what they say'.