5 Tips For Approaching Constructive Feedback

At Rocket Companies®, our culture thrives on the sharing and implementation of constructive feedback to help each team member grow and develop. We believe that feedback is a gift; however, just like the ugly sweater that you got from your aunt, not all gifts are our favorite and not all feedback is easy to give or receive. Constructive feedback and challenging conversations are all part of our career journey. They help evaluate our work and allow us to innovate and execute at a high level.

Whether you’re an intern or in leadership, each of us has had turning point moments where someone helped change our perspective, actions or impact. In the moment, these gifts can feel like that ugly sweater, but with time we see that these are an investment in our development! Feedback is like a gift because someone cares enough to want to celebrate our wins and support us in growing through our opportunities.

Knowing that feedback is a gift doesn’t necessarily make it comfortable or intuitive to give or receive. Fortunately, we have incredible experts in navigating through difficult conversations at Rocket Companies!

Take Heather Contreras for example, she is a Team Relations Specialist (Human Resources) responsible for supporting 650 team members. Each day, Heather supports them when they need it as they grow through constructive and positive feedback. Learn her top five tips for giving and receiving constructive feedback below.

1. Setting the right environment is critical! Be sure to have these conversations in a space that’s private and free from distractions. If you’re remote, find a quiet spot in your home and ask that your receiver do the same.
2. Frame the conversation by stating the topics that’ll be discussed. This will ensure the receiver is in the right mindset and on the same page from the beginning. Provide specific examples and avoid absolutes.
3. Seek to understand the receiver’s thoughts and points of view. You can achieve this by asking open-ended questions.
4. Brainstorm the next steps for yourself and the receiver. Work together to set goals and performance expectations. As the giver of the feedback, it’s beneficial to identify what should be done differently.
5. Agree on steps to ensure success! Set milestones for follow-up and accountability. Encourage the receiver to enlist support from others.

When receiving feedback, keep in mind that it’s a two-way street. Be sure to actively listen, ask for examples and thank the team member for sharing. Implementing the feedback and setting achievable goals to improve will help you become the best version of yourself.

Are you looking for more tips on how to elevate your career? Explore more of our top articles on the Rocket Careers blog.