“We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.”
– Bill Gates

I’m always on the lookout for new ways to improve. 

That’s why I love reading books, watching TED talks, and recording my podcast every week. And while these tools are great and give me a good handle of what I need to work on, there is nothing as valuable as receiving honest feedback (even if it feels super uncomfortable in the moment).

We could all benefit from feedback, but most of us are masters at avoiding & deflecting it – and when we do, we rob ourselves of major growth opportunities and the meaningful connection that comes from honesty, trust, and loving encouragement.

You see, we all have blind spots that we’re unaware of, and do things we don’t think others’ see (but they do), and these things impact our level of effectiveness and ability to prosper.

If we knew how we showed up to other people (aka how we come across), it could give us the opportunity to both see what’s working and what’s not working, and then the opportunity to grow into who we think we are or who we strive to be.

For me, it was getting called out for being a people pleaser and being inauthentic, which prompted me to make major changes in how I live my life, use my voice, and approach my relationships.  Constructive feedback was the ultimate game changer.

If you are open to tapping into the power of feedback, ask yourself the following questions, and answer them truthfully:

• What are you avoiding getting feedback on?  There’s probably something there that you can break through or learn from.
• What constructive feedback would you give yourself right now?
• Who do you trust that will lovingly be honest with you about how you show up to them?  I challenge you to ask them, and see what they perceive to be your greatest strengths and opportunities for growth. You may be surprised!

Mark