Inspire Team

Feedback Reflection Exercise

by for .  
#transforming systems
20 +

Goal

This activity aims to help learners reflect on their experiences with giving and receiving feedback, both positive and negative. The goal is to foster self-awareness and set the stage for a subsequent lesson on providing feedback in a respectful and professional manner.

Materials

    Instructions

    1. Open the discussion with learners by asking who has ever given or received feedback, in any form, in their lives.

      1. Most learners will raise their hand.

      2. Emphasize the point that feedback is common and a part of life for most people.

      3. Feedback can look like many different things - it can be feedback on how you do your job, or feedback from your family about the meal you cooked. It can be feedback on a product you purchased, or someone subtly telling you there’s something in your teeth. All of that constitutes feedback.

      4. In this exercise, we’ll spend time thinking about what makes feedback “good” and what makes it not so great.

    2. Table Creation:

      1. Instruct learners to create a table with three columns on a piece of paper.

      2. Label the columns: "Negative Feedback Experience," "Positive Feedback Experience," and "Receiving Feedback Experience."

    3. Reflecting on Negative Feedback:

      1. Ask learners to recall a time they had to give feedback that did not go well.

      2. In the left-most column, have learners answer the following questions:

        1. What do you think caused that to happen?

        2. What did you do?

        3. What did the other person do/how did they react?

      3. Allow a few minutes for reflection and writing.

    4. Reflecting on Positive Feedback:

      1. Prompt learners to think about a time when they gave feedback that went well.

      2. In the middle column, have learners answer the following questions:

        1. What do you think caused that to happen?

        2. What did you do?

        3. What did the other person do?

      3. Allow a few minutes for reflection and writing.

    5. Reflecting on Receiving Feedback:

      1. Guide learners to recall a time they received feedback, whether positive or negative.

      2. In the right-most column, have learners answer the following questions:

        1. Was it a helpful experience? A negative experience?

        2. What do you think caused that to happen?

        3. What did you do?

        4. What did the other person do?

      3. Allow a few minutes for reflection and writing.

    6. Analysis and Reflection:

      1. Invite learners who feel comfortable to share their responses to one or more column. Make note of any key elements that emerge from each example.

      2. Encourage learners to look at the patterns, similarities, or differences in their responses.

        1. Are there any repeat elements that made for a positive experience, or on the flip side, a negative experience?

      3. Ask them to reflect on what insights they gained from the activity.

    7. Debrief

      1. Facilitate the debrief using the debrief questions provided below.

      2. Reiterate that everyone has varying experiences with giving and receiving feedback.

      3. Encourage a discussion on the challenges and opportunities in the feedback process.


    Background

    Preparation

    Ensure each student has a piece of paper and a writing utensil (analog or digital)

    Technology Considerations

    • Use a virtual meeting space if hosting this exercise virtually.


    Additional Context

    Acknowledge that discussing personal experiences can be sensitive. Emphasize the importance of respectful and supportive dialogue during the debrief.

    Tips for Localization

    Facilitators can adapt language and examples to resonate with the cultural, geographical, or identity-related contexts of the learners.

    Debrief Questions

    • What patterns did you notice in your experiences with giving and receiving feedback?

    • How did reflecting on these experiences make you feel?

    • In what ways do you think this reflection can contribute to your growth in giving and receiving feedback?

    • What challenges do you anticipate when providing feedback in a professional setting?

    • How might understanding your own feedback experiences help you empathize with others during feedback exchanges?

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