Why Do People Fear Receiving Feedback and How to Overcome It?

 Why Do People Fear Receiving Feedback and How to Overcome It?

The mind craves appreciation, praise, and rewards; anything that soothes the heart is what we are prepared to hear. However, when we receive negative feedback, we tend to dwell on it, and our worries increase significantly. To avoid such feelings, we often shy away from feedback, particularly from critics, and avoid soliciting input that highlights our mistakes. Upon closer observation, this behaviour reveals a tendency to prioritise our emotions over rational thinking.

Here are some questions to ponder:

·      Will we always be right?

·      Do we always do our best?

·      Is the other person wrong in their observations about us?

·      Is there room for improvement?

·      Do we have a choice in how we take the feedback personally?

·      Can we differentiate between opinions and facts?

We recognise that we don’t always have to be right or at our best, that others can sometimes offer valid observations, and that there is always room for improvement. We also have a choice regarding whether to take feedback personally, and we are logical enough to differentiate between opinions and facts. Despite this understanding, we often resist input out of fear of worrying about the implications.

However, if we genuinely care about our personal growth, we should be willing to embrace improvement, and feedback is a key component of that process. Let's not fear hearing something unpleasant about ourselves. Even the greatest champions receive constructive feedback after achieving significant success; top singers are advised on how to improve their pitch, and award-winning directors receive input to enhance their scenes. Without feedback, achieving excellence is difficult. If we genuinely wish to excel in our chosen fields, we must remain open to receiving feedback.

M.L. Narendra Kumar