Feedback is a great tool to help evaluate decisions I’ve made. I can make adjustments based on that feedback. Then I can reassess and move forward.
Shane Parrish shared some thoughts on feedback in his blog this week: “The people who want to be better welcome honest feedback. The people who want to stay comfortable fight it. Let this be a filter.”
This is the balance of life. Am I improving or getting comfortable? When I catch myself trying to defend a decision or action, I know it needs more thought. We are all wired to defend ourselves. Sometimes it’s warranted and sometimes it’s a stall tactic to maintain the current level of familiarity.
Accepting feedback often requires change. Change takes effort. Fear of change is self-centered; it’s a defense mechanism that we carry subconsciously. We are all creatures of habit. Those that learn to override this mechanism are among the more successful. Consider this the next time you get constructive criticism that’s hard to take.
Quote Worth Re-Quoting
“Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson