Using Feedback at workplace...baby steps

USING FEEDBACK TO BUILD

Introduction

All careers involve other people. Every workplace revolves around interactions with a wide variety of people. Their different perspectives of you have an impact on your career. Answering the question, How Do Others See Me? What If I put myself in others' shoes , How would I look ? provides you with information to check out your assessment of yourself and to examine whether your reputation supports your career goals.

You can get and use feedback from people throughout your organization to learn what people think and say about you. You can then use that knowledge to enhance skills, change performance habits, emphasize strengths, further develop your weaker areas, and create effective career plans.

Naturally, different people see you in different roles and situations. By comparing their view of your skills and potential with your own, you can test your self-image against reality and thus develop PERSPECTIVE on how people view you and your work. This is an excellent way to get valuable information about your reputation/self-image. With that broad, accurate self-image, you will be able to set more realistic and more reachable career goals.

Here are some tips for you to :

· Assess your reputation; and

· Learn how to obtain feedback.


REPUTATION

Understanding your reputation is a critical first step in gaining perspective. Your reputation consists of the stories others tell about you. These stories take on a life of their own. Rumors and anecdotes enhance or limit your career opportunities. The further removed people are from firsthand experience of your performance, the more their assessments are based on your reputation. Remember, if you do not manage your reputation, other people will!

Who are two or three people in your organization who have power over or can truly influence your reputation?


If you asked these people to describe your abilities, what would they say are your most valuable competencies and skills? (You don’t need to actually ask these people the questions at this point. This is only your perspective of how they view you.)


What would these people say are your major liabilities?

Why would they say this? Name the specific actions/behaviors/events that would influence their assessment of you. Be specific!

What do you say are your most valuable competencies and skills?

What do you say are your major liabilities?

Compare your perspective with the perspective of others. Write down any similarities and/or differences you notice.

Think about your career aspirations. What would you like people to say about you to help you achieve your goals? (e.g., “You’re admired by your customers.”)

What would you need to say or do to have others see and describe you that way? (e.g., team player, talk with customers frequently, provide recommendations for product enhancement). List three actions you could take to manage your reputation.