# 2 Getting feedback from other people

When you were a student at school or college, you probably had at least one or two tutors and fellow students whose views you would value and take on board.

Good teachers, and managers, usually aim to give you constructive feedback; that is, feedback that tells you where you have done well, where you have done less well and how to develop your skills and knowledge.

Feedback from others happens in more informal contexts too. Have you ever been told something about yourself that you didn’t know, resulting in you gaining confidence in your abilities? The chances are that the answer is yes.

Getting feedback from another person, of course, isn’t always constructive; it can be difficult and even stressful. However, planned well, it can be incredibly useful both in confidence building and in highlighting areas for personal development.

One big advantage of gathering feedback from other people is that they may have a different view of you from the one you have of yourself. Drawing on their perspectives can help you think about yourself in a different way, and open your mind to new possibilities and opportunities.

Here are some ideas from people who have written about the subject.

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