Latest / PTT Music Podcast / From Criticism to Growth: Build a Better Feedback Filter

Transcript

From Criticism to Growth: Build a Better Feedback Filter · PTT Music Podcast

• 0:21
  So I was looking through some old project files the other day,
• 0:24
  and I stumbled on this email from our very first creative project together,
• 0:29
  and oh my word, Jordan, the feedback we got from that early demo.
• 0:34
  Do you remember?
• 0:35
  One of the reviewers literally wrote, and I quote, "The energy is okay,
• 0:41
  but they sound like they drank way too much coffee before hitting record."
• 0:45
  Way too much coffee!
• 0:48
  Oh, wow.
• 0:49
  I actually forgot about that, but wow, yeah, that hurts.
• 0:54
  It is funny now, but back then?
• 0:58
  Man, it felt like a total punch to the gut.
• 1:01
  It is amazing how one little comment like that can just colonize your mind and make
• 1:06
  you want to go hide in a cave.
• 1:08
  It really does!
• 1:09
  It can trigger this immediate defensive reflex where a person may want to lash out
• 1:14
  or just completely shut down.
• 1:17
  And it turns out there is actual science behind why someone does that.
• 1:22
  There is this study from researchers looking at what they call trait interpersonal
• 1:27
  vulnerability.
• 1:28
  And basically, they found that when we receive criticism, our brain naturally
• 1:33
  interprets it as this existential threat to our identity.
• 1:37
  It is like our psychological self defense system kicks in, and instead of processing
• 1:42
  the feedback calmly, a person can build this massive, impenetrable wall instead of
• 1:48
  a, you know, a helpful filter.
• 1:51
  A wall instead of a filter.
• 1:54
  Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.
• 1:56
  Because when you build a wall, nothing gets through, right?
• 1:59
  You protect your ego, but you also block out any chance of actually growing or
• 2:04
  getting better.
• 2:06
  You just stagnate.
• 2:07
  Exactly.
• 2:08
  And to really break down how we can avoid building those walls,
• 2:12
  it helps to look at the psychological anatomy of feedback itself.
• 2:17
  It usually falls into three distinct categories.
• 2:20
  You have destructive criticism, which is basically just designed to tear you down,
• 2:26
  no real value there.
• 2:27
  But then you have constructive criticism, which, according to the research,
• 2:33
  actually builds together by identifying a specific problem and offering real
• 2:38
  solutions.
• 2:39
  And then there is instructive criticism, which is more about adding on to your
• 2:44
  existing knowledge without passing any judgment on you as a person.
• 2:49
  Hmm.
• 2:49
  Instructive.
• 2:51
  So it is just, like, here are the facts, here is some new information you can use,
• 2:55
  no emotional baggage attached.
• 2:58
  It reminds me a lot of the track "Figures."
• 3:00
  Have you listened to that one lately?
• 3:02
  The production is so clean and structured, almost mathematical.
• 3:07
  It has this very steady, focused rhythm that feels completely objective.
• 3:11
  Oh, I love that connection.
• 3:13
  Yes!
• 3:14
  Treating feedback like neutral figures, just direct, hard data points to analyze
• 3:20
  rather than some emotional attack on your character.
• 3:23
  Right!
• 3:24
  When someone speaks something about you to you, there are always two distinct parts.
• 3:30
  There is the content, and then there is the tone.
• 3:33
  If you can use that "Figures" mindset to separate the two, you can completely strip
• 3:39
  away the personal narrative of failure and just focus on the raw data.
• 3:43
  Like, okay, maybe their tone wasn't the best, but is there a number or a factual
• 3:49
  point in there that I can actually use to improve?
• 3:52
  That is the ultimate test, isn't it?
• 3:54
  But it is so hard to find that balance.
• 3:57
  I mean, on one hand, if you listen to absolutely everyone, you end up in this state
• 4:02
  of complete paralysis from trying to please everyone.
• 4:06
  But on the other hand, if you listen to no one, you fall into intellectual arrogance
• 4:11
  and you just stop growing.
• 4:13
  How do you tell the difference between someone offering constructive or instructive
• 4:18
  criticism, who actually wants to help you grow and someone who is just,
• 4:23
  you know, throwing stones from the sidelines?
• 4:26
  Well, I think it comes down to resilience, but maybe not the way we usually think
• 4:31
  about it.
• 4:32
  It is like that song "Snap Back."
• 4:34
  The beat is so resilient and upbeat.
• 4:37
  It has this incredible momentum.
• 4:39
  And that is what emotional recovery is really about.
• 4:43
  Resilience isn't about never feeling the blow of criticism.
• 4:47
  It is about having that elastic mental strength to absorb the hit,
• 4:52
  process what is useful, and then snap back into your original,
• 4:56
  authentic shape instead of staying permanently bent out of shape by someone else's
• 5:00
  opinion.
• 5:01
  Yes!
• 5:02
  Oh, that is beautiful.
• 5:04
  Snapping back into your true shape.
• 5:07
  So, how do we practically build that filter so we don't stay bent out of shape?
• 5:13
  Let us break down some concrete steps our listeners can use starting today.
• 5:18
  First up is what we can call the content tone divorce.
• 5:23
  Like we talked about with the study, constructive feedback significantly minimizes
• 5:28
  the psychological aftermath of failure, but only if we actually let the constructive
• 5:33
  part in.
• 5:35
  You have to consciously choose to ignore the emotional tone,
• 5:39
  or how it was delivered, and focus purely on the content.
• 5:43
  Ask yourself, what is the five percent sliver of actionable truth in this that can
• 5:49
  actually make me better?
• 5:50
  I love that.
• 5:51
  The five percent sliver.
• 5:53
  It takes all the power away from their delivery.
• 5:56
  Second is the source audit.
• 5:59
  You have to categorize feedback based on where it is coming from.
• 6:04
  Are they in the arena with you, or are they just a spectator?
• 6:08
  Give the maximum weight to mentors and peers who have real skin in the game and
• 6:14
  genuinely want to see you succeed.
• 6:16
  If they are just an anonymous voice from the cheap seats, you can politely dismiss
• 6:21
  it and move on.
• 6:22
  And third, the twenty four hour cool off.
• 6:26
  When you get hit with unexpected feedback, implement a strict pause.
• 6:31
  Do not reply, do not make any changes, do not defend yourself.
• 6:36
  Just wait a full twenty four hours.
• 6:39
  Let that initial chemical wave of defensiveness and adrenaline clear out of your
• 6:44
  system, and then look at the facts with a cool head.
• 6:47
  That is such a game changer.
• 6:49
  That pause is everything.
• 6:51
  Absolutely...
• 6:53
  Again, thanks for spending this time with us on the PTT Music Podcast.
• 6:58
  We hope today's conversation left you inspired, encouraged,
• 7:02
  and ready to carry that energy with you wherever life takes you.
• 7:06
  I'm Jordan Sterling...
• 7:07
  And I'm Ava Brooks.
• 7:09
  We'll see you next time for another conversation that celebrates creativity,
• 7:13
  purpose, and the power of music.
• 7:16
  If you enjoyed today's episode, we'd love for you to continue the journey with us.
• 7:20
  Visit PTTMusic.com to explore our latest music, official videos,
• 7:25
  exclusive merchandise, artist updates, and much more.
• 7:29
  You can also stream PTT Music on your favorite music platforms.
• 7:33
  And be sure to subscribe to our the podcast, leave a review,
• 7:36
  and share this episode with someone who could use a little inspiration today...
• 7:41
  Until next time, keep moving forward.
• 7:43
  And let the PTT Music continue to move you closer to who you truly are.