I should have powered off my iPhone.
After a relaxing dinner with a glass of my favorite sweet summer wine, a peach Bellini, I was ready to devote the rest of the evening to me-time!
I had eager plans with a set of plastic press-on nails. The ones that come ready with a nail design. Two-tone in color and bonus— a gold glitter outline.
With no drying time needed, I was ready to go! My press-ons had just arrived in the mailbox, on time with Prime Delivery from Amazon. My new COVID normal, and something new I’m trying until I feel it’s safe to return to the nail salon.
I should have turned off my phone because when I picked it up, I was annoyed by an onset of over 16 text messages!
What in the world, I thought.
It seems a friend wanted me to answer a chapter-size text about how to respond to the negative feedback she received from her new boss. Not only did she write a novel, but she sent the unedited version in a group text!
Most of the group immediately took my friend’s side and shamed her boss for offering a different perspective that disagreed with my friend’s outlook.
I’ve long since understood that cooler heads prevail, and she already had more than one ear responsive to her venting. So I continued with my at-home nail appointment.
How I answered my friend the next morning with time overnight to offer a more thoughtful response
Feedback, good, bad, or indifferent will always be a human trait. Offered solicited through a survey, or unsolicited the way my friend received it. Feedback comes whether we work in the office or at home, and it’s a pre- and a post-COVID thing that will always happen.
3 ways to objectively handle feedback about yourself, even if it’s not so good
Change often comes when you’re uncomfortable, and uncomfortable can come in the form of adverse feedback— whether there’s truth to the feedback or not.
1. Contrary to how you may feel at the time, your best growth can come from being uncomfortable. In other words, the jump to change can come in the form of an uncomfortable push!
In the case of my friend, her negative remarks came after an interaction she had with a co-worker.
2. Recognize every interaction you have as an opportunity to have a positive impact on others.
“Your actions should inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more & become more.” —Quincy Jones
Feedback is the universe giving back to you the opportunity to grow in ways that you may not have considered on your own.
3. Ask yourself this, inspired by the beautiful Marie Forleo:
“How can you make this obstacle the greatest thing that ever happened to you?”
I’ve found renewal and fresh outlooks by answering this question for myself.
Complacency is the enemy of success. Trust the process with a thank you in advance.
“Whether you pushed me or pulled me,
drained me or fueled me,
loved me or hated me,
you are part of my growth, and I say thank you.”
So, I’ve channeled my annoyance about an untimely group chat into helpful advice, right. Making the best of a seemingly negative situation. Hence, it works!
Copy and paste this into a text message for someone who may need to hear this today:
?Your best growth can come from being uncomfortable. In other words, the jump to change can come in the form of an uncomfortable push!
?Recognize every interaction you have as an opportunity to have a positive impact on others. “Your actions should inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more & become more.”
?Ask yourself this, inspired by the beautiful Marie Forleo: “How can you make this obstacle the greatest thing that ever happened to you?” I’ve found fresh outlooks by answering this question for myself.
?Complacency is the enemy of success.
Trust the process with a thank you in advance!