Feedback Is Always Golden!

Originally published on LinkedIn · February 14, 2015

I have heard and read several people talk and write about feedback. Today, I would like to share my perspective about feedback.

I say, feedback is absolutely golden. We give several adjectives to it like 'candid', 'honest', 'frank', 'admiration', 'flattering', ‘appreciation’, ‘advice’ and the like.

An individual is both a giver and a receiver of feedback constantly whether consciously or otherwise. Every conversation, situation, study, thought has a message. Simplistically, a feedback is a message. A message can be analogous to a medicinal capsule. It encompasses a capsule itself (packaging) and medicine inside (message).

A message:

• can be delivered in multiple forms/shapes etc.,
• is multi-dimensional
• At broad strokes, message type can be
• bitter or sweet
• candid or flattering
• measured or skewed
• factual or brutal
• appreciation or criticism
• At broad strokes, message delivery can be in a variety of packaging techniques
• sarcasm
• teasing
• joking
• serious
• emotional etc.,

At very broad strokes, we can classify all of us into below 2 personalities in this context:

Personality A:

I absolutely belong here!!! :-)

Receiving dynamic: Personality A is the type that is very self-critical and are perhaps extremely comfortable in both giving/receiving a high dosage of message than packaging. They believe in the crux of the matter (‘what’) to digest than ‘how’ it was delivered. Due to this, they have the highest potential to improve on their weaknesses while the ability and courage to give a solid feedback. If you are this type or have observed one, these types are extremely comfortable receiving a message in it’s raw form with minimal to little packaging.

Giving dynamic: When giving a message it to the other person, they would naturally and more typically assume their modusoperandi. A few might realize or choose to do tweaks based on the opponent’s personality type. Potential improvements to this type could be to work on skewing more on packaging than the message itself.

Personality B:

Receiving and Giving dynamic: Personality B is an inverse of type A. They are keen on packaging than the message itself both in terms of giving/receiving. Personality A and B perhaps have the extreme polarity and conflicts.

Relationship dynamic between A – A:

As a type A myself, I always enjoy conversations/arguments/debates etc. with my personality types (A) as that’s where I get the most of message without impacting the relationship as I have complete confidence and faith that the other person can absorb my message well. I have learnt enormous amount of lessons and improved on several areas with the help of this type people in my life.

Overall, an A-A interactions are pretty manageable, ideal and harmonious blended with a high learning potential and a much quicker process and efficiency.

Relationship dynamic between A – B:

As much as personality B types have struggled in taking my feedback, I have also struggled in giving and also receiving feedback from them. When receiving, I often get bored to peel the wrap to find some minute message in it. In terms of giving, I have struggled in trying to package it but sometimes, I wouldn’t invest my time if I have to work on too much of packaging. Boring for me! L

Relationship dynamic between B – B:

Must be another manageable and harmonious interactions but learning process perhaps is much slower and less effective thereby.

Never discount any message as every message is only trying to give you data points. Some exemplify ‘how and what to be’ and the rest ‘how and what not to be’. Both are equally golden for your individual personality growth. Inflow of feedback is never more. Don’t ask the giver to not give any feedback. It’s rare to get qualitative feedback and when you find a channel or source of finding it, don’t ignore or discourage that. Take, store, organize, categorize, prioritize and work on them based on these.