{"id":30524,"date":"2020-03-18T11:01:09","date_gmt":"2020-03-18T10:01:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.small-improvements.com\/?p=30524"},"modified":"2020-03-18T11:01:09","modified_gmt":"2020-03-18T10:01:09","slug":"request-feedback-more-often","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.small-improvements.com\/blog\/request-feedback-more-often\/","title":{"rendered":"Stop waiting for feedback. Ask for it."},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you want to grow into a leadership role or just master your craft, ongoing feedback is your best friend. Does asking for it cause some extra work? Yes. Can it make you feel uncomfortable at the beginning? Of course!<\/p>\n

But if you\u2019re serious about your growth, you simply can\u2019t afford to wait for the next performance review<\/a> to receive feedback. This is especially true if you\u2019re working remotely or if the people whose input would help you develop are in different departments.<\/p>\n

Building a habit of actively seeking feedback from coworkers \u2013 not just your manager \u2013 can have a significant impact on how your career unfolds.<\/p>\n

Asking for feedback builds trust<\/h2>\n

Do you sometimes hesitate to ask for feedback because you\u2019re afraid to look stupid? Rest assured, it has the opposite effect. Soliciting feedback can actually increase the trust coworkers have in your abilities, opening the door to new growth opportunities.<\/p>\n

Researchers from Harvard Business School and Wharton School found that people who ask for advice appear more competent<\/a> than those who don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Just asking your peers to evaluate your past performance won\u2019t do the job, though. If you want their respect and trust, include a challenge-specific, future-looking component in each feedback request. Ask something like: \u201cWhat\u2019s one thing I should do differently next time I kick off a project?\u201d<\/p>\n

Especially if you\u2019re working across different teams or locations, it\u2019s essential to build trust. Asking for opinions and advice is key because it shows that you\u2019re committed to your work. Your coworkers don\u2019t have to worry about whether you\u2019re able to get what you need to deliver great results.<\/p>\n

Ramp up your performance and learning<\/h2>\n

So now you know that people will think more of you when you ask them for feedback and advice. But what about your actual personal and professional development?<\/p>\n

No matter how good you are at what you do, picking your coworkers\u2019 brains will always make you better. A study involving 9,786 individual contributors (employees who don\u2019t manage people) backs this up.<\/p>\n

Employees who were able and willing to \u201cactively seek feedback to improve\u201d received significantly higher effectiveness ratings<\/a> than other employees. As you can see in the chart below, your productivity directly correlates with your ability to request feedback.<\/p>\n

\"Chart<\/p>\n

But wait, there\u2019s more! Receiving feedback brings various additional benefits, especially if you\u2019re asking for it proactively.<\/p>\n

Adjusting course becomes a breeze<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s much easier to make small adjustments based on lightweight feedback than to make a complete turnaround after issues have piled up. By regularly asking for feedback, you ensure that the information you receive from your coworkers is timely and actionable.<\/p>\n

Unveil your blind spots<\/h3>\n

Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to make you aware of a bad habit. And sometimes you\u2019re doing something with positive intent that may be interpreted differently by others. Like looking into a mirror, asking people about their perception of you helps you become more self-aware.<\/p>\n

Never be blindsided by feedback again<\/h3>\n

Feedback can hurt if it catches you off guard \u2013 we\u2019ve all been there! People tend to remain silent until they feel like they really<\/em> need to address something. Or if they\u2019re your manager, they may just wait until it\u2019s performance review time. Inviting feedback is an effective way to worry less about what others think of you, beat the imposter syndrome, and avoid unpleasant surprises.<\/p>\n

How to start asking for feedback<\/h2>\n

Can we agree that requesting peer feedback is a powerful tool for your development? Great, now let\u2019s look at a few things to consider before your next request:<\/p>\n