Let's feed feedback

Welcome to the mid-week edition of The Resilience Brief, designed to get you fired up and focused to finish the week strong. Today I want to dive into the power of feedback, so take a read and please don’t forget to give me some feedback about this one.

Feedback for the win!

In the early 2000s, LEGO was in serious financial trouble and losing relevance in the toy industry. However, with a brilliant new CEO at the helm, they shifted gears to begin the journey back to profit. One of the first things they did was to turn to their community for feedback, launching the LEGO Ideas platform to let fans propose and vote on new designs. By asking for the feedback, then actually listening to it, and then finally acting on it, LEGO revitalized their product offerings and also built stronger connections with their customers.

Who knew that the simple idea of feedback could actually help save a company the size of LEGO? But it did!

For many people, receiving feedback can be uncomfortable or even overwhelming. But for us resilient folks, we view feedback not as criticism, but as an opportunity to develop, and improve. Our resilience empowers us to listen with an open mind, process constructive feedback positively, and use it to fuel our personal and professional growth.

But even though we might know what’s up, unfortunately some of our colleagues might not (likely those who might not be getting this amazing newsletter yet).

Feedback can fuel our resilience, and also vice versa. So here are a few ideas and tools worth considering this week.

1. See feedback as a gift

One of the hallmarks of a resilient mindset is the ability to reframe challenges and shift perspectives. There is always a better view of the situation. So instead of seeing feedback as a judgment, we can view it as a gift. It’s an opportunity to gain insight into areas for growth. This simple mental shift will transform our emotional response to feedback.

Personally, I try to always shift my language. We can replace phrases like “I failed” with “I’m learning.” And I always remind myself that feedback is a tool for improvement and is specific to the work I am doing, NOT the person that I am.

Additionally, there is always an opportunity for gratitude. It takes a lot for someone to give feedback, so it’s always a positive step to tell someone that we appreciate them taking the time to share it. That simple step reinforces our commitment to growth…..and we practice an important tool at the same time.

2. Cultivate a growth mindset

A growth mindset is the belief that our abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and learning. It’s a cornerstone of resilience and helps us see feedback as a roadmap for improvement rather than a spotlight on shortcomings.

We can emphasize learning. Instead of focusing solely on performance outcomes, we can easily prioritize goals that focus on learning and improving skills. For example, “I want to improve my presentation skills” rather than “I need to nail this presentation.”

The next one is a big one….. what if we actively seek out feedback? When we proactively ask for feedback (even when it’s not offered), it demonstrates our commitment to growth and helps normalize feedback as part of your routine.

Lastly, we should never forget to celebrate our progress. When we’ve embraced feedback and made real change, we should always reflect on how that feedback has helped us improve. This come in especially handy as fuel for further growth.

3. Look for (or build) a supportive feedback culture

Resilience thrives in environments where feedback is seen as a positive and collaborative process. By fostering open communication and mutual respect, we all feel more comfortable receiving and acting on feedback.

One of the best ways is to model resilience. We can demonstrate our own openness to feedback by seeking it out and responding constructively. And our example will likely encourage others to do the same.

And remember that feedback is really about forging stronger relationships. Constructive feedback is always rooted in a desire to help us succeed, so it can strengthen our relationships with colleagues, mentors and friends to create a sense of trust and safety.

And then finally there is follow up after feedback. Once we’ve had time to process and make necessary tweaks, it’s a brilliant display of resilience to follow up with the person who provided that feedback. It demonstrates that we got something from their insights and are growing as a result.

Feedback is one of the most powerful tools for growth, but only if we’re open to receiving it. It worked for LEGO, it worked for Quentin Tarantino, it works for everyone who is coachable. When we’re resilient, it allows us to approach feedback with curiosity, confidence, and a willingness to improve.

Until next time friends, stay resilient!

Carre @ Resilient Minds

PS - I’m always on a mission to make this the best newsletter you get in your inbox each week, so please don’t forget to send me your feedback when you can. You can reply directly, or fill out the form at the top of the email.