Feedback Strategies

A feedback graphic created by Sherim Squibss Pharma. Link here 

The two articles I read were Try Feedforward Instead of Feedback and Be a Mirror. I really enjoyed reading the article about "feedforward" because I think the concept and idea of it is interesting in itself. While negative feedback and discourage someone completely, giving the same feedback to someone positively and in a more light-hearted manner can completely change how they will 1) interpret it and 2) benefit from it in the long run. As said in the article, the person will take feedforward less personally and and it can also come from anyone who knows the task, not necessarily personal experience with whoever the individual is. I think that this is helpful as well, even though I know it can't always be the case, just because you feel like it's less biased. Kind of like if your work was in a contest getting judged anonymously. They aren't critiquing it knowing it's yours, and it's comforting knowing they'd probably say the same thing no matter what.

The second article I read, Be a Mirror, was interesting to me because it talked about Carol Dweck and the growth mindset again. What resonated with me the most from this article is when they talked about how the most difficult quality is taking yourself out of the feedback. As in, don't say, "I like how you..." or "I think..." because I know that's something I 100% do and need to work on because I've probably already said it in every single one of my blog comments so far. It's true that when I'm giving feedback it's not about me, it's about the author, and I need to keep it focused on them. 

I think that feedback is important, especially when it's constructive and positive. I think that I get the most out of feedback that is question based, because it makes me think about it as well. Like, oh, I guess I could've done that, or things like that to get my mind thinking. This semester I definitely need to work on taking myself and my *opinions* out of it and try to focus more on the author themselves and putting myself in their position (wording wise) so they get the most out of it and I'm saying "when you..." rather than "I think..." etc!