How do you integrate feedback into your daily routines and habits for continuous improvement?

When we are working towards improving or learning anything, we have to know what the long-term and shorter term goals are. Once we know where we are going, we have to decide the feedback markers we need to feel that we are making progress towards the goals. This will be different for each person. Get to know what kind of feedback you need to feel confident that you are making the kind of progress you want to make. In order to build confidence and resilience, we have to be very specific about what encouraging feedback looks like for each of us. Maybe it’s mastering a skill and being able to teach it to someone else, maybe it’s tracking a habit every day for 30 days, maybe it’s cultivating a feeling of me meaning and purpose.

1. Know what you want to improve (like communication or technical skills). 2. Make sure you can measure progress 3. Keep goals realistic. 4. Connect goals to your overall plans. 5. Set a deadline to reach these improvements.

Feedback is a crucial component of my personal development and continuous learning. I regularly seek input from my network to discuss my content, ideas, health and time management strategies, and investment philosophies. Over the years, I have gained valuable insights from the feedback I've received, allowing me to create a self-improvement plan for the next 3-5 years. My personal improvement plans are closely aligned with my long-term goals and short-term activities, ensuring a cohesive approach to growth and achievement.

Making sense of feedback and using it as a tool of improvement require one to go in with a growth mindset. So instead of looking at feedback at just negative talk, if we were to take a moment and tell ourselves, that here is an opportunity for us to improve a particular skill or process, it sits more lightly on us and we can move forward. Feedback is crucial for self-improvement and this is the difference between learning from feedback and merely reacting to it.

𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Start by identifying the areas where you want to improve. These could be skills, behaviours, or aspects of your work or personal life. 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀: Actively seek feedback that is related to your goals. This could be from colleagues, friends, family, or mentors. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀: Regularly track your progress towards your goals. Use the feedback you receive to assess how well you’re doing and make adjustments as needed. 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: When you achieve a feedback goal, take the time to celebrate. This can motivate you to continue seeking and integrating feedback into your routines.

Asking for feedback means you don't wait around for people to tell you how you're doing. You go and ask them yourself. Just be clear about what you want feedback on, and say thanks when you get it.

Be sure to ask for the kind of feedback that would be most helpful to you and your goals. People are eager to provide feedback, even unsolicited, so be specific in what you need. “Can you give me your thoughts on how clear and concise I was during my presentation?” or “Did you feel supported in the ways you needed during your last task or project? If not, what kinds of support work best for you?” If you are self-monitoring, make sure you set up the feedback monitoring that gives you exactly what you need to know how you’ve done or what you need work on. It can really vary depending on the habit, routine, or task, so take some time to understand what feedback you need and then set up the tools you need to get it!

𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲: Seek feedback from people who have a good understanding of your work or the areas you’re trying to improve. This could be colleagues, managers, mentors, or even friends and family. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Make sure the person giving feedback feels comfortable and safe. This can encourage honest and constructive feedback. 𝗕𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲: Approach the feedback with an open mind. Even if the feedback is critical, view it as a tool for growth and improvement. 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸: Show that you value the feedback by acting on it. This can encourage people to give you feedback in the future.

Pick the right people: Reach out to people you trust for honest feedback, like your manager, teammates, or a mentor. Be specific: When asking, focus on a task or behaviour, so you get feedback you can actually act on.

when you get feedback, listen carefully without interrupting or arguing about it. Understand the other person's perspective and ask questions for clarity. Toward the end summarize it to them like what you might have understood from it.

Stay open: Be ready to hear the good, the bad, and everything in between without getting defensive. Take notes: Write down important points so you can process them fully and reflect on them later.

Always write down or record the feedback in some way. Our brains are tricky and though we think we can manage remembering oral feedback from someone, or even our own reflections after we have done something, the most reliable thing you can do is record it. Write down your reflections, take a video, or record an audio. If it’s coming from someone else, ask them to send you their feedback in a way that you can refer to later. This is the best way to be clear and find the patterns you need to move forward.

When you get feedback, think about what's good and what needs work. Compare it to what you already know about yourself. Focus on what needs more attention and make a plan to improve. Keep emotions aside to make the most of the feedback.

Think it through: Compare the feedback to your own thoughts about how you’re doing. Are there things you didn’t notice about yourself? Look for patterns: If you’re hearing the same feedback from different people, there’s likely something important there to focus on.

Action is huge when using feedback for growth. This means iterating as you go, pivoting if needed, and never being afraid to start over or from a new direction. It is also imperative to celebrate when the feedback you get matches your desired outcome for the goal you’ve set! Even small milestones need celebrating! It will keep you interested and forward moving in your goals.

𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻: For each piece of feedback, create a specific action plan. This should include what steps you will take, when you will take them, and how you will measure success. 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀: Regularly monitor your progress. Are the changes you’re making helping you move towards your goals? If not, what adjustments do you need to make? 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Take time to reflect on your experience. What did you learn from the feedback? How has it helped you improve? Use these reflections to inform your future actions.

After thinking about the feedback, make a plan you can handle. Break it into small steps with deadlines. Keep an eye on your progress and celebrate even if it's a smaller win.

Prioritise: Don’t try to fix everything at once. Focus on the most important feedback first and go from there. Make a plan: Break the feedback into small steps and start working on them day by day.

Embrace a growth mindset: Actively seek feedback from various sources to continuously learn and improve. A software developer regularly requests feedback from colleagues to enhance coding skills. Reflect on feedback: Take time to analyze and understand the feedback received, identifying areas for improvement. Set feedback goals: Establish specific goals for seeking feedback and track progress towards achieving them. A project manager sets weekly feedback targets to enhance team collaboration. Act on feedback: Implement actionable changes based on the feedback received to drive continuous improvement. Monitor feedback impact: Measure the impact of feedback by tracking performance metrics and adjusting strategies accordingly.

To find fulfillment, meaning, and joy in our lives, we need to approach everything we do with a growth mindset. Be clear on your goal, set up and monitor for immediate feedback, and make sure you are balancing the challenge of the activity with your own skills and abilities. If you do this again and again, you will create the kind of life that is an accumulation of meaningful outcomes and it will feel richer, fuller, and more exciting overall!

Keep the loop going: Regularly check in with people to get updates on how you’re progressing. Make it a habit: Turn feedback into a natural part of your work routine, like during weekly meetings or after a big project.

I prioritize incorporating feedback by regularly reflecting on suggestions, adjusting my approach accordingly, and embracing a growth mindset. This iterative process allows me to continually refine my skills and adapt to evolving needs, fostering continuous improvement in my daily routines and habits.

Some of the areas not included in the articles are: 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁: View feedback as an opportunity for growth, not as criticism. This mindset can make it easier to accept feedback and use it for improvement. 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗜𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆: Try not to take feedback personally. It’s about your actions or performance, not about you as a person. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: In addition to seeking feedback from others, regularly reflect on your own performance. Self-reflection can often provide valuable insights. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀: Always keep your goals in mind. Use feedback to help you move closer to your goals, not to distract you from them.

Balance feedback with self-reflection: While it’s great to hear from others, don’t forget to assess yourself too. Check in with your own progress. Celebrate wins: When you start making progress, take a moment to appreciate it. It’ll keep you motivated to keep improving.