I learnt that seeking feedback and improving is better than living with assumptions.

This happened a few decades ago when I was doing my MBA in the United States. Even today the learning is impactful that I observe and clarify things immediately without living with assumptions.

There were a group of us from different nationalities involved in a project, for one of the main semester subjects. We put all our efforts and stood first during the final presentations and submissions. I was very happy and everyone in the team was happy too. In the next semester, there was an opportunity for the same group to do another project and I was excited.

The next day when we were in class, I opened the conversation with the assumption that we would be working together again and sought suggestions on our topic. There was silence. And then one of them opened up and said, “Priya, I think we would like to reconsider the team”. I was stunned and taken aback. I recovered quickly and in my usual style, immediately sought clarification. What they shared has stood with me until today for teamwork.

“Priya, it looked like it was your project and we did not see ourselves in it. You were carried away with your frame of reference and we felt it was better to allow you to take it forward”.

That day I learnt the importance of a WHY for every team member, and the importance for everyone to shine together. I did not allow the voice in my head to take over , “why did they not tell me this ahead, and why only now”.

I learnt the power of continuous feedback and acknowledgement for teams to bond, bind and beget together.

Do you seek feedback from people who matter?
Do you reflect and take action?
Do you lead with a lens of improvement or a lens of mistake and guilt?

How has your action based on feedback, transformed you and your leadership?

Receiving valuable feedback has played a transformative role in my life, propelling me towards growth and self-improvement. The feedback on my loud voice has different tone of opinion towards various person, I face on daily basis. By embracing feedback with an open mind and a willingness to learn, I have gained insights into my strengths and weaknesses, enabling me to make meaningful changes.

One of my mentor from childhood has advised me to use a soft tone instead of being louder to everyone. Although I am not pretending to be louder, my voice make such rude appeal on somebody (not everyone) when I have some conversation with them. Constructive criticism has guided me towards refining my voice, honing my abilities, and expanding my perspective. It has empowered me to identify areas for improvement and take proactive steps towards personal and professional success. The feedback I have received has shaped my self-awareness, boosted my confidence, and fostered resilience in the face of challenges. So I have made myself on using voices carefully on different situations and different people depending on the nature of work, I deal with them. Through this continuous feedback loop, I have embraced growth as a lifelong journey, unlocking my full potential and enabling me to evolve into the best version of myself.

Do you seek feedback from people who matter?
Do you reflect and take action? 
Do you lead with a lens of improvement or a lens of mistake and guilt?

How has your action based on feedback, transformed you and your leadership?

I learnt all about giving effective feedback that will help one grow during my college days. During my under graduation, as a department we had to work on psychological research reports there had to be presented State and Nation wide with rankings. We were working on a tight deadline.

Our clinical psychology professor was managing us a team of 20 students. One of my classmates, let me call her Kiran, was consistently falling behind on her tasks and missing deadlines which got the whole team behind.

Each of us, tried pushing and telling her in various ways but our feedback was thrown out and taken negatively. Our professor who was managing us came forward and told us that ” It was my responsibility to give her feedback on her performance and find a way to help her improve so that the whole team can shine.”

Our professor scheduled a one-on-one meeting with Kiran and started by asking her how she felt about being part of research team and if there were any challenges she was facing. After listening to her concerns, she explained to her that her effort and work was not meeting the expectations of the team and that it was important for her to improve her performance. Our professor provided specific examples of where she was falling short and offered suggestions on how she could improve so that as a team we can outshine and win.

Kiran initially seemed defensive and upset, but after a few days she came back to our professor and thanked for being honest with her. She took the feedback seriously and made a concerted effort to improve her performance. Over time, she became one of the strongest members of the team and we were able to make it to the final round nationwide.

This is when I realized that good feedback acknowledges the trust and vulnerability that goes into the process through good-faith communication and the drive to help another person. Be transparent and kind, and your feedback will go much further.

Do you seek feedback from people who matter?
Do you reflect and take action?
Do you lead with a lens of improvement or a lens of mistake and guilt?

How has your action based on feedback, transformed you and your leadership?

One personal experience where feedback had a significant impact on my life was in my professional career. I was working in a fast-paced environment where we frequently had to collaborate with colleagues from different departments. One day, my manager pulled me aside and gave me feedback about my communication style. He mentioned that while I was knowledgeable and competent in my work, but majority of the time I came across as silent person, where I do not engage much in conversation during the meetings.

Initially, I was taken aback by the feedback because I always thought listening and understanding plays a major role. However, I realized that effective communication is not just about understanding information but also about building positive relationships and fostering collaboration. I decided to work on my communication skills by actively engaging in conversation with others, considering their perspectives, and adapting my approach to be more collaborative and inclusive.

Over time, I noticed a positive change in my working relationships. Colleagues started to approach me more often for input and collaboration, and the overall team dynamics improved. This experience taught me the importance of feedback in professional growth and how small changes in behavior can have a significant impact on relationships and teamwork.

These personal experiences have reinforced my belief in the power of feedback. They have taught me that seeking feedback proactively, being open to criticism, and taking action to improve based on that feedback can lead to personal and professional growth.

By sharing our stories and raising awareness about the importance of feedback, we can empower others to embrace feedback as a tool for continuous improvement and leadership development.

Do you seek feedback from people who matter?
Do you reflect and take action?
Do you lead with a lens of improvement or a lens of mistake and guilt?

How has your action based on feedback, transformed you and your leadership?

In my TV journalism days in college, we were divided into groups for reporting assignments. One person was supposed to be the cameraperson, while the other would be the reporter. Since we had to travel to different parts of the city, the dynamics of the team was very important.

I was fortunate as most of my reporting partners were enthusiastic and accommodating. I got to learn a lot from my experience of working with them. However, one particular girl seemed difficult. She was rigid about the way we should report and would get very rude if things didn’t go her way. Coming from a world of liberals, I was egoistic too and refused to comply with her methods. I thought I had to stand up for myself and fight it out. It wasn’t long before we had conflicts that ultimately led to the loss of important footage.

Our teacher, Nishat Sir, called us to his room separately. When it was my turn, he told me that the point of the assignment was not just to get the work done but also enjoy the process. I told him this was impossible if the other person was not accommodating. He said, “And you think you are being accommodating to her? Why are you entitled to presume that things will be easy and your growth will be comfortable? You proved your point but didn’t get the work done and lost a potential connection.” That hit me hard. I realised that nothing came out of me standing my ground in that context. I learnt two things. Firstly, many times it’s okay to adjust and compromise for a greater goal while swallowing my pride. It does not mean I am losing myself. Secondly, I learnt to accept that people will usually see things differently, yet we must do our best.

Going ahead, there were similar situations in different organisations where I didn’t think I or my team member was on the same page. Sometimes, I made the extra effort to be amicable, while sometimes, the other parties adjusted for good work outcomes. That feedback from my teacher helped me make friends out of many uncomfortable situations.