The Importance of Asking for Feedback at the Workplace

Updated: Aug 6

Learn how to ask, receive, and grow with every conversation at work.

July | 2025 | Australia

In today’s dynamic work environment, feedback is more than just a performance review—it's a tool for continuous learning and development.

When used effectively, feedback can boost confidence, improve skills, strengthen relationships, and help employees grow both personally and professionally. Yet, many people hesitate to ask for it.

Understanding how and when to ask for feedback, how to respond to it—especially if it’s negative—and how to develop a growth mindset are crucial skills for long-term career success.

Why Feedback Matters

Feedback is a powerful mirror that reflects how others perceive our actions, work, and behavior.

It helps identify areas of strength and improvement, aligns expectations, and fosters open communication. Most importantly, it creates a learning loop where we can adjust, adapt, and thrive.

Key Benefits:

Clarifies expectations
Encourages continuous improvement
Builds stronger relationships
Enhances performance and engagement
Increases self-awareness

How to Ask for Feedback Effectively

Asking for feedback proactively shows initiative and a desire to grow. Here’s how to do it well:

1. Be Specific

Instead of asking “Do you have any feedback?”, try:

“Can you give me feedback on how I handled today’s client call?”
“What could I improve in the presentation I gave this morning?”

2. Choose the Right Moment

Timing is everything. Ask for feedback:

Right after completing a project
After leading a meeting or presentation
At the end of a one-on-one session with your manager
During performance review discussions

3. Use Professional Expressions

Here are some useful English expressions to ask for feedback politely:

“I’d really appreciate your thoughts on…”
“Do you have any suggestions for how I could improve…?”
“I’m looking to grow in this area—could you share your feedback?”
“What would you have done differently in my situation?”

How to Receive Feedback Gracefully

Receiving feedback—especially negative feedback—can be uncomfortable. But handling it professionally is a mark of emotional intelligence and maturity.

Tips:

Listen without interrupting. Focus on understanding, not defending.
Ask clarifying questions. e.g., “Can you give me an example of when that happened?”
Say thank you. Feedback is a gift—even if it’s hard to hear.
Reflect before reacting. Take time to process before taking action.

How to Deal with Negative Feedback

Negative feedback, when approached correctly, can be your biggest ally in professional growth.

Steps to Respond Constructively:

1 . Don’t take it personally. Feedback is about behavior or performance, not your value as a person.

2. Stay calm and composed. Demonstrate maturity and openness.

3. Acknowledge the feedback. “Thank you for pointing that out. I wasn’t aware of it.”

4. Take action. “What would you recommend I do differently next time?”

5. Follow up. Show that you’ve listened and improved.

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Introducing the Growth Mindset

A growth mindset, a concept developed by psychologist Carol Dweck, is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and learning.

Why It Matters in Feedback:

People with a growth mindset see feedback as an opportunity, not a threat.
They seek challenges, learn from mistakes, and persist in the face of setbacks.
It leads to resilience, better performance, and higher job satisfaction.

Shift your mindset:

From “I failed” → to → “I learned something valuable”From “I’m not good at this” → to → “I’m not good at this yet”

Conclusion

Feedback is essential for growth. When we learn how to ask for it, receive it with grace, and apply it constructively, we unlock our full potential.

By developing a growth mindset and viewing feedback—positive or negative—as a tool for progress, we set ourselves up for long-term success in any workplace.

So, don’t wait for feedback to come to you.

Ask for it, embrace it, and use it to become better every day.

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