Feedback + Time - Emotion = Action

This week, I received some feedback on a project I thought I nailed and I took it like a Roman Emperor would. I wanted to destroy the messenger.

This person really pissed me off.

Now, usually, I’m pretty good with feedback and have certainly gotten much better at receiving it as I have gotten older.

But this week’s “notes” had me like Ralph Kamden. I wanted to throw a left — “POW! Right in the kisser.” (Those of you of a certain vintage will get that reference.)

Suffice to say, I was positively livid.

Why? Because I thought I did the assignment — and thought I did it great.

But…

No.

So I let things sit for the day. I focused on other things while the “notes” marinated in silence. And that night, right before I closed my eyes and searched for a dream, I had an idea about how to approach the critique.

I wrote it down.

When I woke up the next day and went to work, the new idea I wrote down, based on the harsh feedback, seemed to be working and working well.

It struck me there is a formula for you here: Feedback + Time - Emotion = Action. (f+t-e=A).

You need to give yourself time to separate the harshness of the feedback from your emotions.

Once it’s isolated and you can look at the feedback calmly, you can then appreciate it and do something with it.

Now, feel free to give me some feedback on this post.

I can take it.