Feedback Strategies

Mistakes are Mine from the Feedback Padlet

The two posts I read were Be a Mirror by Gravity Goldberg and How to Give Bad Feedback Without Being a Jerk by Adam Grant. Grant pointed out four main ideas that included explaining yourself, getting a better attitude, asking if people want feedback, and being transparent. I think that all of these things are important when giving feedback because your goal is to help, not hurt fellow writers. It is easy to critique others without thinking about how people are going to actually take it. Some people have thicker skin than others, but you never really know how someone is going to react to your feedback. Therefore, you might as well give efficient feedback that will be helpful overall. Goldberg pointed out five similar yet different ideas that can help in giving feedback that include being specific, focusing on the reader and process, making sure it can transfer, and finally to not be too personal. These tips are so important because we have to think of helping out other writers in a way that others will understand, not just us personally. I know that I have gotten much better at giving feedback as I have progressed in college, but I look forward to using some of these tips to help out my fellow peers. I also look forward to working on my ability to take feedback and constructive criticism without taking things so negatively. Anytime I received feedback in the past I would immediately be upset. I never saw the feedback as being something that could help me because I let my emotions get in the way. However, I feel that I have grown and I am able to take the comments that are given to me in order to better my future self. Now, I can only get better!

Feedback Thoughts

Growth-From the Feedback Padlet

John Spencer's Seven Ways to Crush Self-Doubt: There were some really great points in this article that I could completely relate to. First of all, I always compare myself to others. I have found that as I get older I have been better at not comparing myself to others, but I still do it quite often. Perfectionism sort of follows that line of growth, but like I said, I am doing better as I get older. I am fairly good at being vulnerable and embracing growth mindsets, so at least I have control over a couple of helpful tips. Setting goals within my control is also something that I take pride in, but the final two tips are the things I need to work on the most. Those include treating my work like an experiment, and trusting myself. Hopefully as this semester progresses I can work on these things. 

Joel Almeida's Rewire Your Self Critical Brain: There was some really good advice in how REBS can help you to focus on treating setbacks as just a temporary blip. REBS stands for reality-based self-congratulation. It was helpful to think of it as rebelling against your harsh/critical self. When you think of rebelling, you want to associate it with a negative thing, but in this case it is a positive. Overall, you can look at life in the present if you just follow some fairly simple steps. Lastly, I appreciate how the article ends with saying that everyone is worthy of respect and love.

Life can be really difficult, and sometimes hearing the reality from yourself and others can be really challenging. As someone who suffers with anxiety and depression, I have had to learn a lot of methods to make sure I stay grounded and know the reality of the situation. It is easy to get down on yourself, but it also isn't as difficult as it seems to smile.