FEEDBACK FUELS GREATNESS

The discomfort: No one likes to hear what they’re doing wrong. And no one likes to be the one telling someone what they’re doing wrong. It’s a fear as old as mankind; a deep tribal instinct that protects us from being discarded from

‘the group’. But feedback – from the right source – is the quickest way to unlock your true potential.

The evidence: The concept of a super-elite athlete is something boffins over at Bangor University have been studying for years. Their findings? Those who perform best are those who not only get technical feedback, but also emotional support from their coaches. In other words, their coaches act as a sort of surrogate parent – motivating, encouraging and offering critical feedback. Super-elite tennis players perform better, and for longer, than they did 50 years ago. Why? Because of the introduction of elite coaches – individuals whose job it is to give constant feedback. In the 70s, tennis players simply turned up to the game, played and the best person won. Careers were shorter, injuries were more widespread and games were over quickly.

The plan: Seek out a ‘care coach’ – someone who knows and understands you, and therefore understands what’s possible and what’s not (telling an introvert to be bolshier just isn’t going to cut it). Plan regular feedback sessions, no more than 30 minutes at a time – remember, this is hard, so don’t prolong the discomfort. Ask them for three things you want critical feedback on, and be specific. The more on point you are, the more they will be.