We all need feedback to learn and grow, but if you’re waiting for your annual review to find out how you’re performing, you’re not getting enough of it.
How do you make sure you get the input you need, especially if your boss is stingy with advice? First, make sure your boss knows which kinds of feedback you want.
Do you need appreciation or acknowledgment? Evaluation or general coaching? Next, ask for feedback in real time.
If you want insight into your performance on a project, ask for it sooner rather than later.
Use specific questions that won’t result in yes or no answers, such as “What’s one thing I could improve?” And press your manager for examples.
A label like “You need to be more assertive” is not very helpful. Unpack the label by asking, “What kinds of things should I do to be more assertive going forward?”
(Adapted from “How to Get the Feedback You Need,” by Carolyn O’Hara.)
