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Why I’m Scared to Give Feedback
And, how I overcome the fear
I consider feedback to be one of the most exciting, edgy, and growthful parts of communication. It’s impactful to both share and receive it.
At the same time… there seems to be so much that can go wrong!
The reason why I seek feedback is because it helps me develop external self-awareness. It’s a concept coined by organisational psychologist Tasha Eurich. She says it’s not enough to have a clear sense of our internal experiences. It’s just as important to get information on how others see us on the outside, as it influences our experience of the world!
Receiving feedback can feel scary for me. But, it’s not nearly as scary as giving it. When I am supposed to do the latter, my mind typically jumps to this set of worries:
What if I only have negative feedback to offer? How will this person take it? Will I be clear and non-judgmental in my communication? Will the feedback destroy our relationship?
In other words: I get hung up on the “negative” feedback and how the hell I am going to deliver it without causing harm.
I had this worry recently, when I co-ran an event with a less experienced facilitator. I thought that, in this context, it was my obligation to give the them feedback. How else…
