The Feedback Formula: Listen, Learn, Level Up

Let’s be real, feedback is awkward. Either you don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings, or you feel a little crushed hearing it yourself. But here’s the truth: feedback, when done right, is a superpower. It’s what turns good work into great. So why do most people suck at it? And more importantly, how can you get better at it without feeling weird?

Want better feedback? Ask better questions.
Instead of just saying, “What do you think?”, try something like, “What’s one thing I could improve in this design/writing?” It’s more direct and helps people give useful answers. And yeah, timing matters. Don’t chase someone when they’re clearly busy. Ask when things are calm, and show them that you genuinely want to get better with their feedback.

When you get feedback, just listen.
You don’t have to jump in and explain yourself. Just take it in. Sometimes it hurts, but there’s usually a bit of truth in there. If you’re unsure, ask, “Can you show me what you mean?” And if someone’s being real with you, don’t forget the most important part: say thank you. Honest feedback is rare and golden.

But don’t stop there. Take what you heard, reflect on it, and choose one or two things to actually work on. Apply it. Improve. Then come back and show them how their words helped. That creates a feedback loop people want to be part of.

Feedback doesn’t have to be scary. If it’s done right, it’s fuel. Ask better, listen deeper, act smarter, and you’ll grow faster than 90% of people who avoid it.