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Let me know what you think about this? Will you listen to this idea of mine and tell me what your honest reaction is? please fill out this evaluation form and drop it in the box provided... are all an everyday part of our lives.

Improvement is the benefit of constructive feedback. Making an effort is the first step then getting a follow up reaction to your effort shows you what to strengthen and what to eliminate. Next step is to act upon that feedback. Resubmit the result to somebody who can give you some pointers again. There should, once again, be some "atta boys" to encourage you and show you what to strengthen and build upon. When you get some responses there will also be some errors or weak spots pointed out which you can eliminate.

A PICTURE OF WHY IT HELPS
I'd use the illustration of growing a garden to explain the benefits of constructive feedback. To grow a good one you are continually looking for dead blossoms, weak plants, sickness, pests, empty spots to eliminate. You are also looking at the productive,beautiful spots to enhance and enlarge. It's a never ending process. As long as you stay actively engaged in it the product will be a fascinating patch of ground.

You might improve the bed a lot just by inspecting it yourself. On the other hand, when you bring somebody else into the yard and ask them to give you their opinion you may see some things through their comments that you would not have seen by yourself. They may also have some ideas not only of what they like or dislike but how to improve it which can make the whole project richer.

VALUE OF FEEDBACK IS WELL KNOWN
People talk about this all the time. Most long to get some positive comments from others. But if they really want to improve something they will seek the insights of people who will do more than just lather them with compliments. Then afterwards, they will thank the person for the pointers and say something like, "Two heads are better than one." or "Thanks for letting me bounce that idea off of you."

Destructive feedback of course is just designed to discourage. It may not have any meat to it. It can be the result of jealousy or immaturity. But sometimes even feedback which is meant to discourage can be useful. The most important element in feedback being constructive or not is your attitude in receiving it. If you are open to other ideas and insights you can hear some pointers even in the opinions of those who don't mean to help you. It is important not to let the opinions of other folks keep you from plunging ahead. Their feedback should guide you not be a roadblock to the future.

Learn more about this author, Candace Williams.
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