How good are you at receiving feedback? Do you feel under attack and get defensive, or are you open to it? This blog will give you very persuasive example of how effective feedback can unlock your potential and transform your role in the public sector.
Austin’s story: The power of feedback
Austin was a first grader who was assigned with the task of drawing an accurate, coloured scientific illustration of a tiger butterfly (which looks something like this in real life).
He went ahead and created his first draft of thebutterfly:
Honestly, that’s what I would expect from a first grader (and it’s likely closer to what I would draw too!)
The difference was that Austin attended Aner Charter School in Idaho. One of the characteristics of this school is that they have implemented critique sessions among their students. The aim is to teach kids to give helpful, specific and kind feedback. The process was guided by their teacher and focused on different aspects in stages—first the wing shape, then the wing pattern.
After the first round of feedback, Austin listened to the comments, returned to the drawing board, and came back with this for another critique session:
His peers congratulated his progress, provided more useful feedback, and sent him back to improve his design further. Austin did two more drafts until his classmates thought he was ready to add patterns:
Finally, Austin presented his final draft:
After this draft, his friends were excited and agreed he was ready for color. Here’s Austin’s final version:
When I first read about this it got me thinking about what a secret weapon feedback can be and how little we take advantage of it. Here are three lessons from this story that apply to the public sector.
1. Specific, helpful and kind feedback makes a difference
I’m a visual person. After I read this, story, whenever I send one of my publications or projects to be peer-reviewed, I think of Austin. In my head, it looks something like this:
I imagine what I’m sending as his first draft, hoping that helpful feedback will help me get to the equivalent of Austin’s final butterfly. This small mindset shift has been very helpful for me to improve the quality of my work, reduce my ego, and focus on getting it right.
2. Choose your peer reviewers wisely.
I know, you can’t always choose. But, when you can try to think of someone that would like to add value, instead of looking smarter or wiser. It will make all the difference. If feedback it’s mandatory, try to make the most of it and take what can be helpful. If feedback is not mandatory in your organization, consider it an opportunity to improve your work and have the courage to ask a colleague or a friend for suggestions.
3. Don’t fall short in your expectations
Another powerful lesson from Austin’s story is to do your best not to fall short of the expectations you have for someone else (and for yourself). Another teacher or parent might have been happier with Austin’s first draft. However, the critique sessions were also a way of telling him that he could do better and pushing him to achieve more. Often the public sector is associated with bureaucracy and red tape. I like to think of it as a place where people with the right intentions can transform lives. We need to create an environment to push them to do their best work.
A final reflection about feedback in the public sector.
I loved this story when I first heard of it, and I’ve been meaning to share with you for a while. If you are interested, you can learn more about Models of Excellence, EL Education and its creator Ron Berger here.
Next time, you have to give or receive feedback, think about Austin’s butterflies. Paraphrasing Ron Berger:
“Public servants need to know from the outset that quality means rethinking, reworking, and polishing. They need to know that they will be celebrated, not ridiculed, for going back to the drawing board.”
Adapted from Ron Berger
I think public organizations need that kind of thinking too, to get better.
