#32 How to ask for feedback on your written work
Asking for feedback is not a burden. It's about honoring the other person, building trust, and letting them into your thoughts.
This is a picture of me on my way to King's office to give a writing workshop. Unsurprisingly, one of the topics we covered was about feedback.
What if I’m asking for too much?
What if they don’t want to do it?
What if they don’t like my work and give me negative feedback?
Let’s take a moment to forget these worries and consider something different:
When done well, seeking feedback on your writing can be one of the best ways to honor someone. It’s like saying:
“I respect you and your work so much that I want you to see something I created before anyone else does.”
Even when we do ask for feedback, sometimes the way we ask makes it harder to get useful recommendations. That’s why I want to share some tips on what might not work well and what does.
Who knows, next time you seek feedback on your writing, you can try some small changes to your approach.
What Might Not Work Well?
1. Subjective questions like “Do you like it?”
This is a biased question. It often translates to “Please tell me that you love it because I need to hear it.”
2. Is it too long/short/descriptive (fill in with any adjective)?
This shows your worry. Depending on your relationship with your collaborator, this question might prompt quick, unhelpful replies like “No, of course it’s not!”
What Performs Better?
1. Open-ended questions like “What are your first impressions?”
“First impressions” can take the edge off and show that you’re not seeking perfection in your collaborator’s feedback. By avoiding “liking” in your request, you’re inviting honest feedback.
2. What’s one thing you’ll remember?
A question like this helps explore if your key point is clear. It can also reveal if you’re trying to convey too many things at once.
What Are Your Thoughts?
What questions have you asked? I’m curious to know what worked well and what didn’t for you.
👋🏽 I’m Mel...
I coach tech professionals and help them take meaningful actions based on self-awareness. Say hi on LinkedIn to find out more and join the waitlist.