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Showing posts from May 10, 2012

Feedback is important, but …..

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In our education system we are taught to focus on the weaknesses and the defects. That is the way we are being rated. The focus is on what is wrong, not on what is right. For example, you have 3 faults out of 10. We don’t say you have 7 good out of 10. The same negative focus is part of the performance review process. In one of my first formal reviews, my manager talked for 50 minutes about things, which could be improved. So, I thought that I would receive an insufficient rating and I did become scared. However, to my big surprise I did receive a ‘Usually Exceeds Requirements’ rating! I still do feel the surprise and above all the negative feeling. This way of giving feedback is especially damaging in innovation. As you are starting something new it is of course wise to receive all kinds of feedback (positive and negative) but you must not have the feeling that you can better stop with your new project. It is important to understand: -        -  Who did give the feedb