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THE ART OF GIVING FEEDBACK



One Of The Best Skills To Have In Your Professional And Personal Life


Communication is one of the most vital aspects of an individual’s life.


It is also a key competence almost every employer looks for.


The ability to share and express our feelings, ideas, hopes, and dreams is how we build the foundations of our relationships and societies.


Narrowing down from every aspect of communication, the ability to give progressive, valuable, and considerate feedback is a skill we can only benefit from.


It helps the other person refine their work or attitude and truly see what the situation looks like from a different perspective.


As for the one giving the feedback, building up this skill makes it a valuable asset in almost every circumstance and is a powerful tool to better understand the opinion on things.


This is why the following article will give some guidelines on how to better the substance and how to deliver feedback.



The Johari Window


Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham developed this wonderful method with the core idea of understanding better the communication between two people or members of a group.


However, it is also valuable for the task at hand, as it was deemed the feedback model of self-awareness.


It defines the openness and knowledge of the people interacting, the two most needed concepts required to build trust in a social situation.


There are four essential parts regarding the knowledge and awareness of a person in regards to others, and this is how they are separated:


1. Open (know to self and others) - this is the most honest form of communication.


Here is where feedback thrives because it is both guided through knowledge and received with open arms.


2. Hidden (known to self but not known to others) - in this situation, the person hides or is reluctant to share information about a particular topic.


Here, giving feedback on anything except this attitude is impossible simply because we don’t have the knowledge.


3. Blind (not known to self but known to others) - this is a situation in which the person doesn’t know something others do or assume.


Here is where the individual should ask for feedback.


4. Unknown (not known to self or others) - this is a situation in which neither the person nor the others have a clear understanding of the topic, either on purpose or by accident.


Here feedback is often chaotic.


These separations help show us where we stand so we can give the best possible feedback.


This method makes us aware throughout the entire conversation and guides us through changing our strategies accordingly.



How to Give The Best Feedback


Separate the person from the action.


What we mean by this is to realize that although a person’s actions might not be okay in the current situation, they do not define the individual by any means.


It is essential to understand this separation, focus on behaviors and actions, and not mistake them with character traits.


Another positive strategy is when sharing information to think of it as ideas instead of advice and be descriptive in your explanations.


Trying to give constructive, objective feedback will help the other person improve the situation quickly.


Finally, speak in the first person.


Beginning the sentences with “I felt that…” or “For me, this is…” really clarifies that what you are sharing is a unique opinion.



Final Thoughts


Feedback is an essential part of healthy communication between two people.


It helps us better ourselves and to get a fresh perspective on our situation.


Giving feedback is equally important - you need to be aware of your current social environment and choose the most appropriate way to deliver it.


Understanding and using The Johari Window model might just be the key to elevating your communication skills.

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