Feedback Strategies

I really like the article: How to Give Feedback Without Sounding like a Jerk. I think that Grant does a good job of pointing out the problem with the normal way that people give praise and criticism. A lot of times, I find myself ignoring the compliments--as he points out, I don't feel like they are genuine. I always read past compliments and look for the criticism. I find myself dwelling on the negative commentary more than the positive, and the fact that it's often accompanying positivity makes it hard for me to see either in the correct light. The negative seems like a hidden barb, and the positive seems like superfluous fluff. 

But I find myself giving feedback like that, because the last thing I want is for someone else to lose confidence or feel self-conscious about their writing. I don't want to be the reason someone doubts themselves, but sometimes I know that if I said what I really felt, it might actually help someone improve. I know that the point for everyone is to get better, but I have never been good at tough love. 

I also read Be a Mirror. The most important part of this article for me was the fifth point about taking myself out of the feedback. I've never noticed it before, or maybe I've simply never acknowledged it, but saying "I think..." highlights the subjectivity of my commentary. It seems like a personal reaction that's relative to me and my opinions on their writing. It needs to be about the writer and what they have created and how they can improve their creations. 

Source: Flickr