Yes, that’s the question; can you take a tough feedback? Receiving and accepting feedback is the hallmark of exemplary leaders, learners and winners. A good friend of mine and a mentor of some sorts who drag me into Toastmasters International used to quip, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.’

Toastmasters use a systematic way of giving feedback to their members. The feedback process has been honed over the years making it possible for new members to master the art of public speaking easily. It’s  not uncommon to meet a member who could barely string words together to make a sentence rise to become an orator within a few months of membership of the club all because of feedback from experienced members.

On the other hand the inexperienced people I meet take feedback negatively. Their attitude towards feedback is always defensive; they see feedback as an affront and a question mark over their competence. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

As a matter for fact, only people who trust in you and believe in your competence will be the ones willing to give you feedback. Remember, there are many ways to skin a cat. It’s exactly because there many ways of doing any particular thing that others would have their opinion how it could be done differently.

A cliché we are all accustomed to says, two heads are better than one. So, when you obtain a feedback and reconsider your approach, you soon discover that you’re enriched. Combining the feedback with your original approach most of the time results in a better outcome.  

I had that experience firsthand when I launched my first online course. One of the students and a good friend of mine told me the course lacked structure. I knew she had a point because I was designing the course on the go. As a trainer in her own right and an astute human resources professional with strings of certification behind her name she could see poorly structured course miles away.

Her well-timed feedback turned out to be a big blessing. I was forced to give the course structure a second look and it resulted in more clarity for my students. So whenever you’re given feedback, receive it with open arms and thank the feedback giver profusely. Are you ready to make progress in your career, trade and profession? Then look for mentors and coaches and charge them with giving you instant feedback in everything you do.  If you keep your ego in check and accept feedback with open arms nothing can stop you from rising to the top.