Every time I ask my team or my boss for feedback, I get the same thing: “You’re doing great!” or “Nothing comes to mind.” That’s nice to hear, but it’s not exactly helping me get better. How do I get people to tell me something I can actually use?
It’s great that you want to improve! Part of the problem may be the question itself. “Any feedback?” is so wide open that most people freeze and default to something polite. So make it easier for them. Ask for just one thing that went well and/or one thing you could improve. Better yet, get specific about an area that you’re working on. “Did I leave enough room for questions in that presentation?” will get you a much more useful answer than “How’d I do?”
Timing matters too. Ask often and in real time, while it’s still fresh, instead of saving it for a review months later. Do it in person whenever you can. It is much easier to read tone and ask follow-up questions face to face than through email.
Finally, widen your circle. Your supervisor sees one side of your work; your peers and direct reports see others. Try questions like “How could that meeting have been more effective?” or “What could I do differently next time to improve my talking points?” Ask regularly and specifically, and you’re much more likely to receive answers you can use.
