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The Art of Receiving Feedback: A Personal Tale

Posted on February 21, 2025April 2, 2025 by Dad with purpose
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Feedback: it’s the breakfast of champions, but let’s be honest—it can sometimes taste a bit bitter. Learning how to give feedback is an essential skill, but mastering the art of receiving it is quite another game. It requires a thick skin, an open mind, and maybe a good night’s sleep.

Let me take you back to the early days of my teaching career during one particularly memorable lesson observation. I strutted out of that classroom on a high, convinced I’d nailed it. If I were to score my performance, it was a solid four out of five. The students were engaged, tasks were completed, and chaos was minimal—or so I thought.

Enter the feedback meeting, my bubble of confidence ready to receive some well-earned praise. However, instead of applause, I was met with a critique that felt more like a cold shower. My principal pointed out that my “efficient” instructions were more like a verbal sprint than a helpful guide, leaving my students more bewildered than enlightened. Was she serious? Had she confused her notes from another class? My initial reaction wasn’t exactly gracious—no smiles, just a storm of internal protest.

Frustrated and a tad indignant, I marched out of that room with a plan to prove her wrong. Yet, as I lay in bed that night, replaying the meeting in my head, curiosity got the better of my bruised ego. What if I were to actually consider the feedback with a fresh, slightly less defensive, perspective?

The next day, armed with the points from my feedback session, I transformed into a classroom detective of sorts. I watched myself like a hawk, and what I saw was an eye-opener. My well-intentioned barrage of instructions was indeed as confusing as a Sudoku puzzle written in hieroglyphics. The realization stung a little.

With this new insight, I tweaked my approach—less micromanaging, more clarity. The transformation was almost cinematic. Gone was the frazzled, headless chicken act; in its place was a composed, purposeful glide from student to student. The impact? Significant. My students weren’t just getting through tasks; they were mastering them, and so was I.

The moral of the story? Receiving feedback is an art form in its own right. It’s not about defending your fort from the onslaught of criticism but about opening the gates to potential growth. Sometimes, what feels like an attack on your capabilities is actually a golden ticket to professional mastery. So, take it from me: the next time you receive feedback that’s hard to swallow, try sleeping on it. Reflect, revise, and ready yourself to glide through your classroom—or any room—with dignity and a lot better strategy.

As I learned, feedback, whether it’s served with a smile or a side of surprise, can be the secret ingredient to professional growth. What about you? Have you ever had a feedback experience that turned your world upside down, or perhaps right-side-up? I’d love to hear how you handled feedback in your own journey and what impact it had on your work or personal growth. Drop your stories, tips, or even feedback about this post in the comments below. Let’s learn from each other and keep gliding through our challenges, one reflective step at a time!

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