By: Trish Hakata
I am usually a very defensive person sometimes, actually, I am embarrassed to say, most times. I do not take criticism very well especially when I am passionate about the topic or when I feel I am right. It is quite ironic that as a toastmaster we are trained to give and receive instant feedback and I do that very well at my club yet in the real world I struggle with both. I struggle with giving negative feedback as much as I struggle to receive it. Being at UGA has been a great eye-opener and has helped to portray the contradictions in the way I act in a controlled club environment and the way I act naturally. I have quite strong views on certain issues but meeting Fellows from different countries, backgrounds, and realities has been slowly changing my viewpoint on certain issues. I am listening more and I am starting to understand some of the reasons why my views may differ from others, reasons that include our different value systems.
I have made it a point to start consciously listening more for the sole purpose of getting understanding, not to respond, argue or judge but to understand. It is very hard for me as I am used to debating, and also being a fan of series like Suits and The Good Wife its hard to resist the urge to always argue to prove a point. The great thing about this is that, as hard as I think it may be, I have seen what proper feedback can achieve through our reflection sessions and the feedback session we had with Angela. I have experienced this past week that the key to having great interactions is communication, understanding and most importantly feedback. We are here to learn, unlearn and relearn and the only way we can do that is through constant feedback otherwise what would be the point of going through the trouble when we do not have a tool or ways of measuring our progress or growth. The only way we can achieve excellence as leaders is through giving honest feedback intended to build and not destroy others, soliciting feedback and receiving it with grace even in the most uncomfortable situations.
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