We are often blind to our own flaws. To overcome this, get feedback from someone else. To improve, you need to get open and honest feedback. (Some people want you to feel good and only give positive feedback.)

How do you get open and honest feedback?

First, people must believe you are open to it. When feedback is constructive or critical, how do you react?

• Forward-thinking, “Thank you for sharing, that is really helpful.”
• Defensive, “I did it that way because…”
• Indifferent, “Whatever, I know what I am doing.”

Second, people need to see you do something with the feedback.

“You’re often late and it makes me feel that you don’t respect my time.”

“Thanks for letting me know. I do respect your time and I will do better.”

When you start showing up early or on time, that is a strong message that you heard the feedback. If you are late again, what message do you send?

Are you open to honest feedback? Who do you rely on to honestly tell you how it is?