FEEDBACK MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER
/So each Sunday since C19 outbreak, my husband and I have been tuning into our church online! It’s been cool to see how technology can continue to unite people in this season. We get to “attend” church virtually with my parents out East in Newfoundland, as they tune in as well!
Anyhow, if you’re interested next Sunday, check out Slate Church on YouTube (shameless plug)!
But there was something that Pastor Luke said that kept ringing through my thoughts on Sunday afternoon.
”Everything is better with FEEDBACK.” Now, his context was encouraging people at home, to still engage with the service and the speaker, even though they couldn’t hear us in our various homes, feedback still breeds a culture of engagement, energy and connection.
But to take it a step further, and perhaps from a more high level perspective, that statement is so true across many avenues of life. “Everything is better with FEEDBACK.”
I want to talk a minute with you here about FEEDBACK FOR YOU and FEEDBACK FROM YOU!
First, let’s talk about feedback FOR you.
it’s funny how we as humans love receiving POSITIVE feedback. It elevates our confidence, it empowers us to persevere, work hard, and continue down a path we’ve set ourselves on. It makes us feel GOOD. We often WELCOME this kind of feedback.
Maybe you’re reading this thinking…. well I would love that kind of feedback, but I don’t get any feedback let alone positive feedback. Here’s my response to that—> ASK FOR IT. Look for the people in your life that know you well, and that you trust. Ask them to give you regular feedback on life in general, how you treat others, your career, hobbies, whatever it may be.
POSITIVE feedback is SO important. Our words and support of one another has SO MUCH POWER and can really be the fuel that we need to press forward and grasp ahold of all that’s ahead of us! Positive feedback could be the difference in someone settling where one is, or accomplishing something HUGE! From being somewhat depressed, to something who is THRIVING! So if you aren’t receiving POSITIVE feedback from people around you, start to ask for it!
But there’s another type of feedback that we all need that we don’t LOVE so much. And that’s CRITICAL feedback. But if you don’t have trusted people in your corner that are helping point out the areas you can grow and improve in, how are you going to recognize all of that yourself?
Whether it’s positive or negative, as long as it’s from a trusted source, always approach feedback with the perspective of, “This is FOR me”. They are most likely coming to you with the best intentions for you to GROW and wanting the very best for you! So remember FEEDBACK is for you, it’s not against you.
Alright now, FEEDBACK FROM YOU.
On the flip side of feedback for you, people need feedback FROM YOU. They need the positive and they need the critical. Identify the relationships where you know this is a trusted open door. If you’re unsure, just ask! With your positive feedback be GENEROUS, don’t hold back! Are you admiring someone’s work ethic, heart, community involvement, marriage, relationship skills, fitness from afar? Tell them! That is feedback they need, that can push them to the next milestone of their lives!
And with critical feedback be GENEROUS! But in a slightly different way. Be GENEROUS with your care, empathy, and understanding while delivering that kind of feedback. Coat it with love and kindness. The sandwich approach will always help people do this well. Encourage, Correct, Encourage!
FEEDBACK MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER.
If people don’t hear that they’re doing good, they’ll think they’re not making an impact.
If people don’t hear that they’re perhaps doing something out of line, they’ll think everything is fine.
So let’s be intentional RECEIVERS and GIVERS of FEEDBACK.
XOXO
Ash
