Learn how to ask for, receive, give, and follow up on feedback with your mentor, and how to improve your nonprofit leadership skills and impact.

Important: - Establish mutual expectations: From the beginning of the mentoring relationship, establish clear expectations regarding communication frequency, preferred methods of feedback, and goals. - Respect boundaries and confidentiality: Maintain the strict compliance regarding sensitive or personal information shared during the mentoring relationship. - Express gratitude: Show appreciation for your mentor's time, guidance, and support. A simple thank you can go a long way in nurturing the mentor-mentee relationship. By incorporating feedback into the mentoring process, both mentor and mentee can actively work towards continuous improvement, fostering a stronger and more beneficial relationship.

How can you use feedback to build a better relationship with your mentor?

Feedback is a vital tool for learning and growth, especially when you are working with a mentor who can guide you in your nonprofit leadership journey. However, feedback can also be challenging, uncomfortable, or even discouraging if you don't know how to use it effectively. In this article, you will learn how to use feedback to build a better relationship with your mentor, and how to benefit from their insights and experience.

1 Why feedback matters

Feedback is not just a way of measuring your performance or correcting your mistakes. It is also a way of communicating your goals, expectations, and needs with your mentor, and vice versa. Feedback can help you and your mentor align your vision, values, and strategies for your nonprofit work, and identify areas of improvement, development, and collaboration. Feedback can also help you build trust, respect, and rapport with your mentor, as you show them that you value their input, appreciate their support, and are willing to learn from them.

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Manuel Purwin

Facilitating Flourishing Leadership: Trailblazing Commercial Success and Sustainable Transformation
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There are several powerful reasons why feedback is essential besides the mentioned points regarding goals and professional relationship/rapport. - Growth through positive challenges. - Self-Awareness: Feedback increases self-awareness by providing an external perspective. - Performance Improvement and measurement: Constructive feedback helps to enhance the performance. Feedback can be used as a measure to track Improvements and personal development! - Motivation and Engagement: Feedback, when delivered effectively, can motivate and engage mentees and leaders. - Relationship Building: Feedback fosters trust and strengthens the mentor-mentee relationship. - Organizational Success: Feedback contributes to the overall success.

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Irantzu Perez Genbe

Supply Planning Manager/ Women Mentor/ Agile Lean Thinking/ TEDxEixample/ Sense of purpose
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Considero la retroalimentación o feedback un ejercicio básico y sano entre la mentora y mentorizada para poder progresar y avanzar en el sentido de crecimiento apoyado y soportado por ejemplos compartidos por ambas partes en la cuales se crece a través de las vivencias y lecciones aprendidas durante la vida laboral

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2 How to ask for feedback

Asking for feedback proactively and regularly is a great way to use feedback to build a better relationship with your mentor. When asking for feedback, you should be specific about what you want feedback on, such as a project, a skill, a challenge, or a goal. Additionally, it's important to clarify the purpose and outcome of the feedback - whether it's to improve, learn, solve, or celebrate. Respect and appreciation of your mentor's feedback is key; avoid arguing, interrupting, or dismissing their opinions. Finally, make sure you are timely and consistent with your feedback requests and follow up on the action steps that you agree on with your mentor.

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Irantzu Perez Genbe

Supply Planning Manager/ Women Mentor/ Agile Lean Thinking/ TEDxEixample/ Sense of purpose
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Los comentarios como todo deben surgir y salir de manera natural, a través de la conversación que vas compartiendo en las sesiones Todo con transparencia, con enfoque sano y positivo para fomentar y alimentar con la leña al fuego las aportaciones

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3 How to receive feedback

Receiving feedback from your mentor can be difficult, especially if it is negative or unexpected. However, you can use it as an opportunity to learn and grow instead of viewing it as a threat or failure. To receive feedback effectively, actively listen and ask questions to clarify and understand the points. Reflect on the feedback to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Express gratitude, appreciation, and agreement or disagreement with the feedback. Finally, take action on the changes or solutions that you both agree on.

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Karla Flores

Consulting and Business Strategy | Data Science | Green Energy and Climate Change | Private Equity and Venture Capital
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Contrario a lo que se piensa, es relativamente fácil recibir o aceptar críticas constructivas de un tercero en el ámbito personal o profesional. Siempre y cuando el respeto y la guarda de nuestra autoestima se hayan trabajado de forma individual. Lo complicado, sin duda es identificar objetivamente dichas sugerencias e incorporarlas en nuestro trabajo, nuestras formas de relacionarnos y el desempeño general de la marca personal que representamos. Es por ello que además de tener en cuenta las formalidades y los canales de comunicación para aprender desde la experiencia de un mentor, la mejor forma de mostrar aprendizaje y valoración del tiempo que dedican a nuestro desarrollo es precisamente aplicar su consejo en nuestro plan de vida.

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4 How to give feedback

Giving feedback to your mentor is a great way to build a better relationship with them. However, it can be tricky to do so without offending or discouraging them. When giving feedback, it is important to be specific and factual about what you are commenting on, and to keep the focus on the strengths, achievements, and solutions. Additionally, you should be respectful and empathetic in your tone, language, and format. It is also important to be timely and relevant when giving feedback; make sure it is needed, requested, or appreciated before sharing it. This way, you can show your appreciation, recognition, and support for your mentor while also sharing your perspective with them.

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5 How to follow up on feedback

A final way to use feedback to build a better relationship with your mentor is to follow up on it consistently and effectively. Doing so conveys that you are accountable, responsible, and invested in your nonprofit leadership development, as well as that you value your mentor's feedback and relationship. To follow up on feedback effectively, take time to review and evaluate the feedback exchanged between you and your mentor, and assess the impact, results, and outcomes of the feedback. Recognize and celebrate the feedback given and received, and acknowledge the achievements, improvements, and learnings that it enabled. Additionally, communicate with your mentor about the feedback acted on by both of you, sharing progress, challenges, and further feedback. Plan for the next feedback session with your mentor too, setting new goals, expectations, and needs for the exchange. Through effective utilization of feedback, you can create a positive, constructive, and supportive feedback culture with your mentor - one which will allow you to leverage their insight to learn, grow, and improve as a nonprofit leader.

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Irantzu Perez Genbe

Supply Planning Manager/ Women Mentor/ Agile Lean Thinking/ TEDxEixample/ Sense of purpose
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La retroalimentación tal y como dice la palabra para que genere crecimiento debe ser estructurada, sincera y un enfoque de crecimiento Me gusta la técnica IPP, improvement/ positive/ positive Con un plan de acción claro con pasos a corto/ medio/ largo plazo Objetivos SMART, específicos con owners claros y plan de revisión agendado con plazos a cumplir

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Manuel Purwin

Facilitating Flourishing Leadership: Trailblazing Commercial Success and Sustainable Transformation
(edited)
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Important: - Establish mutual expectations: From the beginning of the mentoring relationship, establish clear expectations regarding communication frequency, preferred methods of feedback, and goals. - Respect boundaries and confidentiality: Maintain the strict compliance regarding sensitive or personal information shared during the mentoring relationship. - Express gratitude: Show appreciation for your mentor's time, guidance, and support. A simple thank you can go a long way in nurturing the mentor-mentee relationship. By incorporating feedback into the mentoring process, both mentor and mentee can actively work towards continuous improvement, fostering a stronger and more beneficial relationship.

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How can you use feedback to build a better relationship with your mentor?

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3

4

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1 Why feedback matters

2 How to ask for feedback

3 How to receive feedback

4 How to give feedback

5 How to follow up on feedback

6 Here’s what else to consider

Non-profit Leadership

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How can you use feedback to build a better relationship with your mentor?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Why feedback matters

2 How to ask for feedback

3 How to receive feedback

4 How to give feedback

5 How to follow up on feedback

6 Here’s what else to consider

Non-profit Leadership

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