Navigating Feedback

Having worked in design and branding for the last 15 years, I'm no stranger to feedback. I've spent hours paging through 11x17 printouts of concepts or dissecting creative huddled around computer screens. Assessing the impact of a logo, the size of type, filtering through PMS colors, and identifying the perfect photo select. Being on the "account side" (client service & project management), my feedback generally reflected the client's objectives and business goals.

My colleagues on the design team had the difficult task of communicating creative feedback. It can be easy to pick apart something presented to you. The challenge arises in how to deliver feedback in a way that is generative and inspirational.

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to work alongside a brilliant creative director during many of these years. He always gave any creative he was working with the same level of attention, whether a brand new intern or a seasoned director. He listened intently as they presented their work, understanding the effort required to create and the vulnerability necessary when sharing something you've made.

When it came time to respond, he provided feedback through a clear lens, not clouded by the stress of a deadline or the pressure of the client. I watched as he offered direction in a skilled and thoughtful way. I marveled at his ability to provide honest, kind, and essential feedback. And I witnessed what his approach generated. Not only exceptional creative output but thoughtful and confident creatives. His approach gave folks the space to solve creative challenges and the support for them to develop. He understood the need for care when fostering creative output.

Receiving feedback can be a profound and inspirational experience. It can help unstuck a sticky situation and provide a new perspective; it can be the spark that reignites a creative fire. It can create space in places that feel tight and constricted.

You have likely encountered feedback even if you haven't worked in the design and branding world. Perhaps it was in a professional setting, from a boss or colleague. Or perhaps you experienced feedback in the form of advice from a friend or loved one. Or it could be guidance from a teacher or neighbor.

However, it's very possible that some of that feedback was not delivered in a kind or thoughtful way. When we hear advice, or feedback, or suggestions, or input, it can unearth a whole host of feelings -- insecurity, questions of self-worth, self-doubt, excitement, curiosity, fear, anger, gratitude - phew!

It reminds me of an event I attended a few years back at the Brooklyn Museum. It was a weekend centered around care and featured a panel discussion with a few creative folks--Kamra Sadia Abdul-Hakim, Marisa Hall & Annika Hansteen-Izora. They discussed the release of Abdul-Hakim's recent publication -- Care Manual: Dreaming Care into Being. During this panel, the discussion meandered into the territory of feedback. They shared their experiences of asking for and receiving feedback. There were two things that surfaced during this discussion that really resonated with me:

1) You have the right to consent to feedback.

2) Not all feedback you receive is intended for you.

In some cases, you may have asked for input. In others, this feedback or advice might have been offered without your request. In either of these instances, you still have agency. And in the cases of unsolicited input, you may not have the opportunity to consent to hear feedback, but you still have the right to consent in terms of integrating feedback.

Further, you've likely been in a position where you've received feedback that didn't resonate. Or advice that felt off the mark. And this stems from the fact that our perceptions are shaped by our individual lived experiences. When someone offers advice, it can often be a reflection of what they need to hear in a particular moment or something they are navigating themselves. Because of this, things that aren't meant for us are sometimes shared. And so you have a choice to hold onto that feedback or release it.

Now, I recognize this is easier said than done, as it's something I continue to navigate in both my professional life and personal relationships.

And so, I developed a visualization to help me translate this concept into a tangible practice I'd like to share with you today. This visualization is intended to be something you can come back to. Something to practice a few times and develop a sort of muscle memory.

I've found it can be a helpful exercise to practice before a formal feedback meeting, like a professional review. I've also found it to be a useful tool when in a conversation with someone who is giving unsolicited advice. I just bring the practice to mind, and I find it often helps move me from a reactive space to a more responsive one.