Comments on: Asking for Feedback http://www.expressyourselftosuccess.com/asking-for-feedback A one-stop e-source with information and techniques on interpersonal and social skills, public speaking, networking, and conflict resolution. Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:34:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Patrick Mathieu http://www.expressyourselftosuccess.com/asking-for-feedback#comment-8 Patrick Mathieu Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:58:09 +0000 http://www.expressyourselftosuccess.com/asking-for-feedback#comment-8 Hi Laurie: Thanks for the reminder to be more specific in making requests of others. I can't tell you how frustrating it is when other people aren't able to "read my mind" and understand what I meant, regardless of what I actually said! :-) I do have one point to add. You wrote: <blockquote>When considering what kind of feedback you want, let that lead you to the person who is best suited to respond. Avoid asking someone who lacks the expertise that precise area.</blockquote> Wouldn't you want to seek feedback from a wide range of people - especially people from your target audience? For instance, if your target audience is young, urban professionals - then I think <b>any</b> feedback you get from this group would be valuable - regardless of their marketing expertise. -Patrick ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ <I>Hi Patrick, Thanks for taking the time to read my post - and for commenting. I appreciate it. You're absolutely right that you'd want to seek feedback from a wide range of people from your target audience, if that's what you're looking for and if they can provide you with constructive feedback and not just subjective opinion. In my example, I was looking specifically for marketing expertise because that's where I was at in this particular marketing campaign. In this case, I should have gone to a marketing professional in my network, which I didn't do. Once the ad was the best I could make it, then I'd go to the next step and get feedback from my target audience if I chose to. I still believe that when looking for constructive feedback, go to those best suited to provide it - and if that means young, urban professionals, that's who you should ask. Likewise, you wouldn't go to older, rural, non-professionals for feedback since they're not your target audience. What I left out of my post is that, yes, stating that the photo seemed "phony" is OK feedback. However, when I asked her to elaborate on what she meant by "phony," so that I could get one that was "less phony," she only responded that she simply doesn't like stock photography. This further confirms to me that I should have asked someone who could have provided me with actionable, constructive feedback. Thanks again for your input. Laurie</i> Hi Laurie:

Thanks for the reminder to be more specific in making requests of others. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is when other people aren’t able to “read my mind” and understand what I meant, regardless of what I actually said! :-)

I do have one point to add.

You wrote:

When considering what kind of feedback you want, let that lead you to the person who is best suited to respond. Avoid asking someone who lacks the expertise that precise area.

Wouldn’t you want to seek feedback from a wide range of people - especially people from your target audience? For instance, if your target audience is young, urban professionals - then I think any feedback you get from this group would be valuable - regardless of their marketing expertise.

-Patrick

~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~

Hi Patrick,

Thanks for taking the time to read my post - and for commenting. I appreciate it.

You’re absolutely right that you’d want to seek feedback from a wide range of people from your target audience, if that’s what you’re looking for and if they can provide you with constructive feedback and not just subjective opinion.

In my example, I was looking specifically for marketing expertise because that’s where I was at in this particular marketing campaign. In this case, I should have gone to a marketing professional in my network, which I didn’t do. Once the ad was the best I could make it, then I’d go to the next step and get feedback from my target audience if I chose to.

I still believe that when looking for constructive feedback, go to those best suited to provide it - and if that means young, urban professionals, that’s who you should ask. Likewise, you wouldn’t go to older, rural, non-professionals for feedback since they’re not your target audience.

What I left out of my post is that, yes, stating that the photo seemed “phony” is OK feedback. However, when I asked her to elaborate on what she meant by “phony,” so that I could get one that was “less phony,” she only responded that she simply doesn’t like stock photography. This further confirms to me that I should have asked someone who could have provided me with actionable, constructive feedback.

Thanks again for your input.
Laurie

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