Are You Open?

I use feedback as a gauge to how I'm doing.

Let's say I'm positioning in a market... If I don't get furore, I'm actually pretty disappointed. Gary Halbert's quote: "By offending nobody, you impassion nobody."

But as a general case, I take feedback as either market research, a new opportunity or a different perspective that I've never seen before. It can even be a split-test.

As everyday life, sometimes you are so blind to yourself - you don't realize how you're presenting yourself to others. For example, you might intent something a certain way, but people see it in a different way. There are tons of lessons to be learnt really.

However, sometimes you also need to understand that not everybody is the same. One person's advice might not be suitable for you. You don't have to accept everybody's advice (they might be wrong) - but you still need to reconsider if what you are doing is really flawed.

Being open isn't easy, but it really isn't optimism or blind ignorance either. It's taking what you've learnt and learning how to put it into use effectively.

James

The lovely thing about "openness" is its relativity. What is open to one is closed to another. What is closed to one is what seems open to another.

But, yes, I do get your drift and must say I am relatively open. No one likes receiving criticism or constructive feedback especially when it is delivered with anger. Then I find it hard to listen but do my best not to be reactive. To be open is good, to be peacefully open is the best.

LLS

Feedback is awesome, all feedback is good in some ways.

Negative or positive feedback should not be used to define YOU as a person! So it shouldn't be taken personally. Once that’s out of the way, we can all benefit from feedbacks if we use it to measure the quality of service or products we are offering and the quality of delivery method to a group or general public.

Once its not taken “personally” know that the person giving the feedback whether their comments or opinions come across as an attack or not, separate yourself from that thought and see how you can use the information to benefit your business or how it can serve you. Be open to feedback, criticism whether constructive or not. And who is to say what “constructive” means to everyone individually. It’s always best to give the individual the benefit of the doubt and thank them for their feedback. If it’s not relevant then just move forward and continue your business.