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Stop Saying You Don't Care: How Feedback Drives Business Growth · Mosaic Sparks with Lesley George

• 0:02
  SPEAKER_00: About three days after buying a product from a company, I received the request in my email to review my experience.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: So while completing it, a thought stopped me.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_00: I was comfortable telling them where they could improve, yet I had to consider how I would receive that same honesty about my own work.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: We often say I don't care what people think, especially when we feel judged or misunderstood.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: Do we truly feel that way?
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: Or are we trying to establish a boundary around whose advice we are willing to receive?
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps what we mean is I wasn't asking for your advice, and your opinion isn't relevant to the decision I'm making right now.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: That takes a little longer to say, but it gives us something worth examining.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_00: Caring is important, and the way we decide which feedback deserves our attention can influence how we grow.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_01: Come get the clothes, come feel the flame, go stay George, remember the name.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_01: Who speaks here the use is mark?
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_01: Don't come down, don't small.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_01: Stop the draw and the dog.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_01: You walk and go to move with grace.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_01: Most of sparks come take your place.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_01: This is where brilliants learn to speak.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes the spark you need is hidden inside the story you thought you already knew.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: So welcome, welcome back, sparklers, welcome back to Mosaic Sparks with me, your host, Leslie George.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_00: And thank you for making this conversation part of your day.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_00: Mosaic Sparks is brought to you by Mosaic Inc., where we help women turn their truth into influence, their community into power, and their purpose into profit.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: So today we're talking about receiving feedback.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_00: And the Disney character joining this conversation is Meg from Hercules.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: Meg carries herself with independence and a sharp sense of humor.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: She keeps her feelings guarded, especially as she begins falling for Hercules.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: Acknowledging those feelings mean admitting that she has something emotionally at stake.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_00: Her story gives us an opportunity to examine the vulnerability involved in caring.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: When someone reaches a tender place, saying, I don't care, can feel easier than explaining why it affected us.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_00: We may want to close the conversation before anyone notices that we are disappointed or even hurt.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_00: That review request made me think about what happens when we leave the conversation open.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_00: Now that company asked me to describe my experience roughly three days after my purchase.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_00: As I completed the review, I realized they were inviting me to explain how their service felt from my side.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_00: My answers could help them understand how that process worked for a customer.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_00: So as a business owner, that stopped me because I know the effort behind my own work.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_00: I know how much preparation goes into a project and how carefully I think through the details.
• 4:25
  SPEAKER_00: A customer experiences what actually reaches them.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_00: An instruction I believe is clear may leave someone uncertain about their next step.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: And maybe the response I consider timely may arrive after a client has spent days wondering what's happening.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_00: Their experience gives me information I can use, provided I am willing to receive it.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this is where I want to return to that sentence.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_00: I don't care what people say.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes we use it as receiving advice we never request it.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_00: Someone offers an opinion about a decision without understanding the circumstances, and we feel the need to protect our peace.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_00: There is room to say, I wasn't seeking advice about this, and I'm comfortable with the decision I've made.
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_00: You can also explain that you are open to discussing it maybe at another time, if that is true for you for you.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_00: A clear boundary helps people understand where the conversation stands.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_00: Receiving an opinion does not create an obligation that you have to act on.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: You can consider its relevance and decide how much attention to give it.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_00: Now, still, the fact that advice was unsolicited tells us how it arrived.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: We need to examine the content before deciding whether there's anything useful in it.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_00: A client may raise a concern before you send a survey, or maybe a colleague may point out an error before you schedule that review.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_00: The timing deserves consideration, and so does the experience that they are describing.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_00: Caring is important because our work affects people.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_00: Now, when I invite someone to work with me, I care about whether they understand the process.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_00: If an author trusts me with their book, I want to know whether she feels informed as we move through the publishing process.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_00: That care gives me a reason to listen, even when the conversation may be uncomfortable.
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_00: The challenge comes when feedback touches something I worked hard on.
• 7:01
  SPEAKER_00: Hearing that a process was confusing can bring up an explanation to my lips before I fully understood the concern.
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_00: Now perhaps you recognize that response in yourself.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_00: Your mind goes straight to the emails you sent or the conversations you remember having.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_00: By the time the person finishes speaking, you have prepared your defense and located that support and evidence.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_00: Don't we do that?
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_00: Now, some of us are ready to turn a simple conversation into maybe a hearing with complete exhibits and evidence.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_00: There may be useful context to share.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_00: Giving the person time to finish helps you understand which details are relevant.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_00: A thoughtful question can keep the conversation productive.
• 7:58
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe ask, can you walk me through where you became unsure?
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_00: Now you have an opportunity to learn what happened.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps the customer received several instructions and couldn't identify which one came first.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe a colleague needed your decision by a certain date and never communicated that deadline.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_00: Understanding the details help you decide what needs attention and who needs to take action.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_00: Receiving feedback also asks us to recognize our own emotions.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_00: A comment about your work may feel especially painful when you are exhausted or you're already questioning yourself.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_00: Someone can point out a small problem on a day when you have very little patience left.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_00: And suddenly the conversation feels much bigger.
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_00: Now, give yourself time before you respond.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_00: You might say, thank you for explaining that.
• 9:02
  SPEAKER_00: I want to review what happened so I can respond thoughtfully.
• 9:07
  SPEAKER_00: Following through on that response allows you to examine the concern with a much clearer head.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_00: You can review the facts, decide whether an adjustment would improve the experience.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_00: Now, Meg's guarded attitude gives us a useful point of reflection here.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_00: Admitting her feelings requires her to acknowledge that she can be affected by someone else.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_00: Personal confidence can involve that same emotional honesty.
• 9:42
  SPEAKER_00: We care about the work we produce.
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_00: And hearing how someone experiences it can reach us deeply.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_00: Acknowledging that feeling gives us a chance to respond with intention.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_00: Here at Mosaic Sparks, we bring Disney stories into our everyday leadership lenses so we can examine the choices and emotions that influence how we show up.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_00: So I want to leave you with a question today.
• 10:13
  SPEAKER_00: What feedback have you dismissed before giving yourself a chance to understand it?
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_00: I want you to really take a moment with that question and maybe do some journaling, and that's a question that you can ponder on for the week.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_00: You may remember a concern that has come up several times.
• 10:37
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps customers or clients frequently ask about the same step in your process.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_00: That repeated question deserves a closer look.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe check your instructions that they receive.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_00: Ask someone to walk through them and explain what they understand.
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_00: You might discover that a small revision could save everyone considerable frustration.
• 11:07
  SPEAKER_00: Career professional can use this approach when a supervisor offers feedback about an ex about an assignment.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_00: Ask for a specific example and clarify what was expected.
• 11:23
  SPEAKER_00: Clear information gives you a practical place to begin.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_00: Your judgment belongs in the process as well.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_00: But consider whether the person has direct experience with your work and whether they comment, their comment identifies something you can reasonably address.
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_00: Someone's personal preference can help you understand their expectation, while a documented error may require a correction.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_00: Now you get to examine the information before deciding what to do with it.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_00: Positive feedback deserves curiosity as well.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_00: When someone says they appreciated your patience, ask what helped them feel supported.
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_00: Their answer may reveal a strength you use so naturally that you have never thought to name it.
• 12:26
  SPEAKER_00: An author may tell me that a particular explanation helped her feel prepared for the next stage of publishing.
• 12:34
  SPEAKER_00: Knowing which explanation helps give me something I can continue using with intention.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_00: Now, through the Brag Framework, we take responsibility for amplifying God's gifts in us.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_00: Part of that responsibility involves recognizing how we use those gifts and being willing to develop them.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_00: Listening carefully can help us identify where our work is connecting and where additional attention would improve the experience.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_00: So this week, invite someone who has directly experienced your work to give you honest feedback.
• 13:20
  SPEAKER_00: Ask what felt unclear, then give them enough time to answer.
• 13:25
  SPEAKER_00: Allow the person to finish before you explain your intentions.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_00: Write down what you hear and review it afterwards.
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_00: Choose one adjustment you can make.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_00: Then check whether it helped.
• 13:39
  SPEAKER_00: If you revise your instructions, ask someone to use them.
• 13:43
  SPEAKER_00: When communication has been a concern, agree on a schedule for updates and keep that commitment.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_00: Let the person know what you did with the information they shared, that follow through gives purpose to the conversation.
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_00: Completing the company's review reminded me that asking for feedback creates an opportunity to learn.
• 14:10
  SPEAKER_00: Receiving the answer requires us to stay present, especially when we hear something we didn't expect.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_00: The next time I don't care what people say comes to mind, take a moment to identify what you actually mean.
• 14:31
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps you need a boundary around a personal decision.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_00: You may need time to process a difficult comment.
• 14:39
  SPEAKER_00: There could also be something useful in the feedback that deserves your attention.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_00: Being clear about your response helps you protect your peace and remain open to growth.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_00: Caring is important because it keeps us connected to the people who experience our work.
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_00: We can care deeply and use sound judgment about the advice we receive.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_00: As you know, unbox your brilliance, allow yourself to keep developing the way you deliver it.
• 15:16
  SPEAKER_00: An honest conversation can give you something valuable to put into practice.
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_00: So, sparklers, thank you for joining me for this episode of Mosaic Sparks with me, Leslie George.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_00: Once again, since a review requests sparked this conversation, I want to invite you for your feedback as well.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_00: Tell us which episode has stayed with you and what made it useful.
• 15:47
  SPEAKER_00: I would love to hear what you would love, what you would love for us to explore in future conversations.
• 15:55
  SPEAKER_00: Remember, share this episode with someone who is building a business or growing their career.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_00: Follow Mosaic Sparks on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, anywhere where you get your podcast.
• 16:10
  SPEAKER_00: Leave an honest review wherever on whatever listen platform that allows.
• 16:17
  SPEAKER_00: And also don't forget, visit bragworld.com to explore the brag.
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_00: We have that website up now.
• 16:28
  SPEAKER_00: So explore the brag and go ahead and sign up for our newsletter and take your next step towards using your gifts with intention.
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_00: So until next time, keep showing up with confidence.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_00: Give yourself room to grow and put what you learn into action.
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_00: We'll see you next week.