Feedback February- Mirror Image
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
Let’s pay our respects to January. Too many resolutions died less than 31 days into the new year.
That’s why I’m dubbing this month Feedback February. It’s the perfect time to reflect and forge ahead. We still have 11 months left in 2018 to reach those goals!
I’ve been reading this book off and on --------->Why Should Anyone Be Led By You? by Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones. One concept that stands out is the idea of 360 feedback- intentionally seeking, evaluating and applying feedback from peers, subordinates and higher ups. The book mainly focuses on workplace dynamics, but its advice is applicable in many contexts.
The language we receive is like a yellow brick road that can help us get to where we want to go. But just like Dorothy's trip, life never takes us in a straight line. There are friends and foes and Oz's along the way. Each encounter and resource holds a lesson.
Mirror Mirror on the Wall
We’re more accessible today than we’ve ever been at any other time in the history of humanity. Always on the grid and one social media app out of reach. Many people struggle to balance working/networking and carving out time for intentional self-reflection.
Self-reflection is an art and navigating the feedback we get is a huge part of getting the most out of the process. It’s important because learning how to receive AND give feedback can build or break relationships and pursuits.
I’ve asked some professional and entrepreneurial bosses for their take on the art of getting feedback for personal and professional development.
First up in the Feedback Series:
Nyssa Pitts Morais, VP of Global Knowledge & Insights at Revlon. Revlon ranks among the top 20 global beauty companies and boasts some of world's most recognizable brands like Almay, Cutex and Juicy Couture. Nyssa's day-to-day revolves around understanding consumer trends and engagement across the company's portfolio of brands. From a professional angle, her work is all about analyzing feedback about others, but for Nyssa, feedback fits into a larger personal narrative.
Nyssa Pitts Morais -
VP of Global Knowledge & Insights at Revlon
"The key insight we should all be looking for is the "gap" in our awareness; that's what's transformational."
Revlon Headquaters, NY, NY
How do you seek out feedback?
- I seek out feedback on specific areas from trusted partners - to ensure that I remain on track especially in areas I am aware that need to be “managed" the most. That said, I definitely think that it is important to have your own personal assessment before seeking it out from others. The key insight we should all be looking for is the “gap" in our awareness; that's what's transformational...not the confirmation of what we already know.
How has getting feedback changed as you have moved up in your career?
- I've found that as I have worked on my “bigger picture" personal development (some may call it spiritual, purpose-driven and/or human development) it has had a transformational impact on my career. I elected to embark on this personal journey in a series of intense workshops that spanned 4-months in 2013 with an organization called Consulting and Educational Center of New York (CEC). As a part of this rigorous process, it really opens up your awareness about who you are as a person in this world. Up until that point, I have been impacted mostly by very functional feedback as it relates to expertise and mastery in my business disciplines (Consulting/Advanced Analytics/Research) - which got me to Global Director level at Revlon. I definitely attribute my two promotions, since then -Global Senior Director, and now Global Vice President- to my personal journey work. This awareness has allowed me to embrace feedback in all forms and not take it personal (as that is key) and acknowledge that most things in life are managed, not fixed. As long as I'm aware of the feedback, I can manage it. I think it is this use/perspective on feedback that makes you effective in leading, managing and inspiring people.
“[My personal journey work] has allowed me to embrace feedback in all forms and not take it personal...and acknowledge that most things in life are managed, not fixed.”
Products and Brand Ambassdors display at Revlon Headquaters, NY, NY
How do you leverage the feedback you receive?
- I embrace feedback more than leverage it. This nuance for me means that I bring it into to my consciousness for reflection on what rings true and what needs more consideration (or another data point). If it rings true than I “shift" immediately, where possible, and/or manage it. For things that are not so straightforward then I probe for more data points, perspectives from others, etc. For some feedback you may need confirmation from other sources and/or to hear it (or experience) differently. Not surprisingly, the more open and aware you are, the easier this becomes.
Takeaways
Have you defined success for yourself? Hearing what others have to say can be soul aching, confidence boosting or just meh, but It really doesn't mean much if you haven't worked on a few things:
1. Know what you're about. I like how the author's of Why Should Anyone Be Led By You? put it “Be yourself - more- with skill."
2. Don't be a rock. If you only rely on what you know, trusted advisers, friends and other valid external perspectives can't help you grow.
3. Don't take it personal. Even if you get feedback that's more like a personal attack take the constructive part and get rid of the rest. Keep the baby; throw out the bathwater.
Your Turn
Have you participated in any workshops, read any books or tuned in to any podcasts that have helped you to break down the process of self-reflection and leveraging feedback? Share your experience in the comments.
