Leaders Letters A Leadership Resource
Edition 3. August 2007
The Link Between Feedback and Emotions Reprinted from Course: Coping with Criticism and Feedback, Topic: How Feedback Triggers Em otions, SkillSoft Corporation, Copyright 2002
eceiving feedback can be an emotional experience, because it either confirms or reinforces what you already believe about yourself or presents you with new and unexpected information. Consider the following points.
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There is a whole range of emotions you may experience when receiving feedback. You should try to use your emotions in a positive way and not allow yourself to be intimidated by your own feelings.
If what you are hearing is pleasing, you may experience emotions such as happiness, exhilaration, and excitement.
Try to show calmness, curiosity, confidence, ease, and optimism when receiving feedback. You are more likely to react objectively if you feel important, competent, in control, encouraged, and motivated.
If what you are hearing is unexpected, or not what you wanted to hear, you may feel fear, disappointment, embarrassment, anxiety, anger, guilt, or confusion. So, why do certain types of feedback trigger different emotions? In her book Giving and Receiving Feedback, Patti Hathaway says that "a lot of our ability to handle feedback is based on our self-image and guilt we experience from our childhood messages." Chances are that your emotional reactions to feedback are already programmed. For example, if you were chastised for making mistakes at an early age, you are likely to have negative emotions towards feedback about your mistakes.
Remember, your ability to be aware of, and control, your emotions will be an enormous help to you whenever you receive feedback from others. Emotions like curiosity, confidence and optimism will be helpful to you. Leaders Letters are produced by the Human Resource Team of the Corporate and Finance Division and distributed to members of the Senior Leaders Group. For more information contact 894 0304.