The trouble with feedback
The trouble with feedback is … feedback ;-)
First, we may ask how do we get feedback. This is simple because there is always feedback even if there is none since this is feedback, at least when you have been asking.
Thus, there is always feedback.
Now that we have feedback we may wonder what it says about us. It might be charming, and it might be disastrous (though I never know what to prefer, so it might be the other way round). But then, if you are asking for feedback you’d better expect some. If you do not like it, maybe it helps asking where it came from.
Anyway, we are probably well advised to ask what the feedback tells us about those who provided it. You know, they may be liars. Watch out!
Look closer! I am sure you will find something.
Eventually, we may want to ask for feedback about the feedback we have just received. As we are generally pretty much involved ourselves we are best asking outsiders and third parties for … feedback about the feedback. Some do this at social gatherings in a pub. A company might have implemented monitoring, service providers might have engaged mystery shoppers, our universities prefer “evaluation”, psychologists and therapists tend to call it supervision.
Feedback about feedback.
But can you trust it? — Oh dear, back to the start!
Ask for feedback about feedback about feedback, and do not forget to give me some, too.