The Importance of Giving and Receiving Feedback

I recently came across an article in The Washington Post about the importance of giving and receiving feedback on personal style.  In Words of Advice for a New Manager Lily Garcia answers the following inquiry:

"I just received my performance review for the year. I had rave reviews for my productivity and the quality of my work, however I received a less than shining report on my style. The report particularly recommend that I focus on "finishing and polishing skills" — both in terms of packaging my work and presenting it to clients, and in leading meetings and interacting with other staff. In short, I was recently thrown temporarily into a management position that highlighted some of the areas I could improve on in my life. I'm not a particularly unpleasant person, however I don't have a lot of experience with professional etiquette.

The assessment used the words "blunt," "grate on," and "informality," and "escalated into a shouting match," so I think I should take this recommendation seriously."

For more on Feedback check out these blog posts:

1. It Pays to be Candid
2. 4 Steps to Flawless Feedback
3. Great Advice on Business Relationships
4. Receiving Feedback
5. The Art of Admonishment