Employability SkillsLesson: Feedback

We are all learning and growing. That's why we are here! Let's discuss a key skill for advancing in our careers and pursuing improvement.

Giving Feedback

Bitmoji of Malena coming out of a giant green checkmark with the words Getting Better below Giving quality feedback is a skill. As a teacher, I am always working on improving in this area. I want to provide you all with quality feedback, so you can learn and grow. We learn best from our mistakes, especially when we have a chance to fix them going forward. I hope you know that all of my feedback on your assignments comes from a place of caring and wanting the best for you.

This term, as you work with your team, you will have the opportunity to practice giving and receiving feedback from your classmates. Please remember to:

Make your expectations clear and discuss why you are asking for those things.
Point out what is going well! :)
Discuss areas for improvement. This is not criticism; it's feedback.
Think about how your word choice can help someone else respond more positively to your feedback.
Be specific! Generic or vague feedback makes it difficult for someone to respond, make improvements, or keep doing the things you appreciate.

Please read/watch at least 2 of the articles/videos below related to giving feedback.

Receiving Feedback

Bitmoji of Malena looking eager with the words Tell Me Everything I will be asking you for feedback about the class a few times throughout the term too! I want to assure you that I am genuinely interested in improving the course and my performance.

As you practice giving and receiving feedback with your team this semester, I want you to be careful about how you respond to the feedback you receive. I used to think that feedback was just criticism, and I would get very defensive and emotional about it. It took a little while, but I was able to change this perspective. I realize now that the people willing to point out areas for improvement are really trying to help me.

It is true that not all criticism is aimed to make things better in the end and sometimes someone just needs to feel heard because they are upset. In this case, I try to be an empathetic ear and apologize if necessary. I know I am not perfect. Later, if they want to discuss a plan for making sure things are better going forward, I am all for it! I hope that you all can be empathetic listeners for your teammates as well. Please remember to:

Read formal feedback when you are emotionally prepared. Consider earlier in the day rather than when you are tired at the end of a long day.
Remember that your teammates want to do well in this course, just like you!
Consider where their expectations and yours may not be aligning. Maybe re-discuss the team community agreement?
Ask for clarification or specifics if you need.
Consider what you may need to tweak to be an even better teammate going forward!

Please read/watch at least 2 more of the articles/videos below related to responding to feedback.

Articles

Giving Useful Feedback

Mind Tools: Giving Feedback - Boosting Your People's Confidence and Ability
Harvard Business Review: How to Give Feedback People Can Actually Use
The Muse: 5 Steps to Giving Good Feedback
15Five: 9 Ways To Give Effective Feedback
Buffer: How to Give and Receive Feedback at Work: The Psychology of Criticism

Responding to Feedback

Videos

Wish the videos took less time?

Click on the settings cog on the right and then increase the speed to cut the video by up to half!

Giving Feedback

Responding to Feedback

When you are ready to move on, scroll down and click "Next >".