A recent study found that the best indicator of whether a person will be productive and effective in their work is self-awareness or in other words the ability to realize one’s qualities, opportunities, and shortcomings, as well as to recognize the way others view them.
The best indicator of low productivity, on the other hand, is the overestimation of many people’s leadership skills and knowledge.
If you want to position yourself for success both professionally and personally, you need to take the time to get to know your strengths and weaknesses – what you do well and what you do not so well, if not worse. The best way to get this information is from others, which means you need to learn to seek feedback and accept criticism. Here are some ways to get the most out of the feedback you get from others:цри
Ask
Most people avoid giving feedback, especially if it is negative, but the best leaders have a habit of asking others for their opinion, even if they know they may not like the feedback they receive. Explain to the others that it is important for you to know their opinion on how you present yourself at work and that you appreciate any constructive criticism they may share.
Seek the opinion of people who know you
The people who can give you the most accurate and useful feedback are those who know you best, and especially those who have worked with you for a long time. They can give you the best assessment of your strengths and weaknesses, both in terms of the first impression you left on them and in terms of how their opinion of you has changed over time.
Look for several sources
It is important to ask for feedback from as large and diverse a group of people as possible. The abundance of different points of view will help you discover things you never even imagined for yourself and will give you a way to find out which evaluations of you are shared by most people. Never accept your self-esteem as a fact until it has been confirmed by at least two people who know you well.
Do not take a defensive approach to criticism
Self-knowledge is critical to success, and a defensive approach to feedback hinders the construction of a realistic picture of ourselves. Follow the rules of effective communication and listen to what others have to say about you, even if you don’t agree with them.
Avoid negativity and self-delusion
No one is happy to hear that he is not as good at something as he thinks, especially if this is an area he considers his strength. The good news is that once you accept the reality, you can take the necessary steps to correct your shortcomings.
Don’t try to fix everything yourself
If you often receive feedback in an area that you need to further develop, do not try to make all the changes yourself. Find someone who can help you dig deeper and find your blind spots.
The best leaders are always looking for feedback and appreciate the feedback of others about them, especially when they come from people they trust. When you know yourself better, you start to perform better in your work.
