In a blog post last week, I asked if we hold onto things. We were approaching a new year, and people tended to make resolutions, clean out closets and make changes. As leaders, especially in education, are we holding on to things we need to let go of to move forward?
On Tuesday, January 3rd, I posted Teaching tips for the first time this year and mentioned the importance of feedback. Feedback and advice, are they different? Feedback is looking at what has happened, and advice is looking to the future with possibilities.
If we genuinely want to improve, feedback helps evaluate and assess our progress towards our goals, but advice from those who have succeeded in learning from years of experience.
When deciding how to seek help or offer help, think about the readiness of receiving or the learner. If we ask for advice as opposed to feedback, we tend to hear less about what and how we are doing and more about how to improve performance.
We need a balance of hearing what we need for improvements, what we are doing well, and reinforcement in thoughts and ideas.
Do I have to accept advice given?
Just because someone gives you advice, it does not mean you have to accept it. Asking questions is always what I have asked others to do in every aspect of their lives. If you don’t ask questions, you will never have the answers you need.
Is the person offering advice:
- Qualified by experience
- Has perspective
- Has expertise
- Can offer value to your situation
- Does the advice offer options
Hold on to your core values. Those are the foundation of who you are and the why behind your purpose. You never have to accept advice or feedback; you listen to the questions you ask and apply what you believe works for you.