Why feedback rarely does what it’s meant to do
“The Feedback Fallacy” —Harvard Business Review
Excerpt: “We humans do not do well when someone whose intentions are unclear tells us where we stand, how good we “really” are, and what we must do to fix ourselves. We excel ONLY when people who know us and care about us tell us what they experience and what they feel, and in particular when they see something within us that really works.”
The article is a thoroughly fascinating read on the myths of feedback, how getting harsh feedback and having “tough skin” to receive it is actually detrimental to learning how to excel.
I see this with many writers who have written manuscripts (or other types of content).
They ask me, an editor, for feedback (really, validation) and they tell me to let them know if it’s crap or not.
They say they can handle it.
Maybe they can, but focusing on the negative aspects will never result in a powerful manuscript as focusing on what’s working.
I appreciate deep stuff like this, and I hope you got something out of it.
Best,
Stanley