Feedback Strategies

The first article I read was "How to Give Feedback Without Sounding Like a Jerk". I really liked this article because giving feedback and accepting feedback is difficult and can come off in a negative way most of the time. No one wants to sound rude or superior when they are giving feedback but it is easy to do. One thing I agreed with is to not give the compliment sandwich, people know when you are doing it and I think it is more rude then just giving the feedback because the compliments are not sincere. I think that first taking yourself off of the pedestal and then giving the feedback is a good way to go.
The second article I read that I found useful was Be a Mirror. I enjoyed the part that talked about giving feedback that can be applied. Feedback is not useful unless it can be transferred. This is why I use the question type of feedback because it gives the author something to think about and indicates a part of the story that is unclear.

                                                 (Feedback: Image from Wikimedia)       

Feedback Thoughts

     The first article that I read was Neil Gaiman's advice on the creative life. I really enjoyed what he had to say to the art graduates he was speaking to. I am a science major and have never really excelled in the arts or anything that requires a lot of creativity however, I still found what he had to say useful and applicable. I am in total agreement with him about making mistakes. Life is about trying different things even if that means not being good at them or not liking them (at least you tried). This is a concept I struggled with and continue to battle all my life because I was not accustomed to failure. However, I took a risk of taking two geography classes in my early college career which lead me to choosing a new path for my future which I am very excited to pursue.
     The second article I read was Seven Ways to Crush Self-Doubt in Creative Work. I strongly agree with the idea that people have self doubt when something really matters to them. It is difficult to accept anything but perfect for something that really matters to you however, nothing is perfect and letting go of that idea is key to not having self doubt. Another thing essential to letting go of self doubt is to not compare yourself to others because you offer things that others cant. I struggle with these concepts to this day because being in a competitive field and applying to graduate programs I doubt myself and my abilities. I constantly have to reassure myself that I have qualities others do not and tell myself that its okay if those qualities are not what some schools are looking for.     

                                             (Mistakes: Image from Wikimedia Commons)