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Abstract

ou posted it initially. It feels good, but it is pointless. You can always show your work to your mom if you need praise without a critical eye later.4–5 years ago, people started adding C&C Welcome (Comments and Critique) to posts. This made it clear that they accepted feedback. Some communities even added levels of feedback ranging from “just likes” to “brutally honest”.What a waste… Brutally honest is the best feedback you can get. Have you ever seen Gordon Ramsay sugar coat his feedback? Would you take advice from one of the most successful chefs in the world or would you get hurt and go home?Please tell me you would stay.Just like great chess masters don’t care about their wins, you shouldn’t care about your likes. Wins give them points in tournaments, but their losses are what matters. If you lose a game of chess and go back to analyze it, you will learn from your mistakes and not do them again in the next game.This is true when it comes to your work as well. Don’t bring mistakes to your next project.<h2 id="2c69">Negatively loaded words don’t mean the feedback is negative</h2>Feedback is a gift. What most people forget is that strangers online help you without expecting anything in return. They don’t owe you anything — especially not their valuable time. They don’t get paid to give you feedback so make sure you don’t turn your back on free gifts.<figure id="7a7b"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*Depl1jK8NN7YphvZNogujg.jpeg"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/@olly?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels">Andrea Piacquadio</a> from <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-tying-ribbon-on-purple-gift-box-1050256/?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels">Pexels</a></figcaption></figure>If someone tells you that your work looks great, no comment, it means they didn’t look at your work.I’ve worked with some of the world’s best artists in the VFX industry. They are the most humble people I have ever met. I remember some of the great ones coming to me for advice on their latest work. I was surprised because they were so much better than me. Why were they coming to me for feedback?I was later told that they came to me because I was not afraid to point out all their mistakes or areas I felt needed more work. I would tell them this part is really bad and that part makes no sense, what were you thinking?I could have given them a thumbs up without commenting on their mistakes just because I was starstruck, but what would they get out of that?If someone tells you that your work looks great, no comment, it means they didn’t look at your work.<p id=

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"86dc">Steve Jobs would tell his engineers their work was shit and you would have to convince him why your way was a good way to do it. Imagine what Apple would have been today if he didn’t constantly challenge his engineers like that.¹<h2 id="7ae6">Start over and move on</h2>One thing you could do if you feel you are done with a piece is to pick up the feedback and bring it with you for future work. It might not be worth working further on the current piece, but it is important that you remember what didn’t work when you start the next.I get it. No one likes to hear their work is shit, but sometimes that is the best feedback you can get. Scrapping something you spent hours, days, or weeks on hurts. The best thing you can do is to figure out why it is shit and bring that into your next work. Don’t settle with generic comments like “This is bad, start over”. Be prepared to start over, but dig deeper so you make sure you know what that feedback was all about.If someone tells you to learn anatomy, maybe you need to take it literally. Does your work have basic issues and are you working on something that you aren’t ready for? Start on page 1 of an anatomy book and take it from there.<h1 id="f712">What to make of this</h1><ul><li>Don’t get offended. People are trying to help you. Remember… Free gifts</li><li>Dig deep to make sure you get all the feedback out there.</li><li>Don’t be afraid to throw your work in the bin and start over.</li><li>Don’t look for praise, look for valuable feedback.</li></ul>You should always dig for critique and never let harsh comments get to you. If you feel that someone straight-up attacked your work, say thank you because now you know those words are the most valuable ones.If someone tells you to throw your work away and start over, give it a try. You’d be amazed at how quickly you can improve. I have a saying that goes like this:<blockquote id="91d7">It will be much better the second time you do it.</blockquote>The keyword is much. Not only will your work be better the second time, but it will be much better if you are willing to learn and implement new wisdom.It is always nice with a like and appreciation. I won’t take that away from you. Whatever you do, make sure you value people telling you your work is shit more than those who give you a thumbs up.This article is proof that feedback helps. <a href="undefined">Sinem Günel</a> helped me with tons of great comments on my piece and it is almost fully rewritten.Thank you for your time.<a href="https://mailchi.mp/93a086539a32/martin-aaberges-medium-writing">Join my mailing list</a> to stay in touch<h1 id="9d14">Resources</h1>¹ “Steve Jobs” — Walter Isaacson</article></body>

How to Handle Feedback and Maximize its Value

Don’t let your feelings get in the way

Photo by Startup Stock Photos from Pexels

Posting your work online for feedback can be a thrilling experience. It can also be an experience filled with fear — fear of not being accepted. What if your work is not good enough? Let me start with the obvious: Your work is never done, you simply run out of time. This means that there is always something you can improve.

Posting work for likes will keep you at the same level you were at when you posted it initially. It feels good, but it is pointless.

In my experience, there are several ways you can handle feedback. I will go through what I think is critical to make the most of it.

Be open-minded

I have taught students for over a decade. Teaching is one of my favorite activities because it challenges me in many ways.

I think it is beneficial to be open-minded when you teach. I never go into a room full of students flashing my feathers thinking I am better than them. One of the main reasons I love teaching is that I can learn so much. There they are. All these amazing people gathered in the same classroom and I am just another guy. Different people — different skills.

Just as I am able to learn from them, I am able to pass my knowledge because I know something they don’t. My feedback should be valuable to them and theirs should be valuable to me. This relationship is beautiful.

One thing is guaranteed when you walk into a room with other people. They know more than you about something.

Are you posting for likes or feedback?

When you post your work you might get one like, then another, and your ego is boosted. This is great, you think. Suddenly a comment lands in your face… It is brutally honest and feels like an attack. What is this? You were just looking for praise and then this guy comes in from the side and sucker punch you with a rude comment like that?

You have to make sure you don’t take critique as an assault. If it hurts, it is most likely good feedback. Embrace it.

Feedback is there to help you grow. If you are only looking for praise, you are missing out on the growth part. Posting work for likes will keep you at the same level you were at when you posted it initially. It feels good, but it is pointless. You can always show your work to your mom if you need praise without a critical eye later.

4–5 years ago, people started adding C&C Welcome (Comments and Critique) to posts. This made it clear that they accepted feedback. Some communities even added levels of feedback ranging from “just likes” to “brutally honest”.

What a waste… Brutally honest is the best feedback you can get. Have you ever seen Gordon Ramsay sugar coat his feedback? Would you take advice from one of the most successful chefs in the world or would you get hurt and go home?

Please tell me you would stay.

Just like great chess masters don’t care about their wins, you shouldn’t care about your likes. Wins give them points in tournaments, but their losses are what matters. If you lose a game of chess and go back to analyze it, you will learn from your mistakes and not do them again in the next game.

This is true when it comes to your work as well. Don’t bring mistakes to your next project.

Negatively loaded words don’t mean the feedback is negative

Feedback is a gift. What most people forget is that strangers online help you without expecting anything in return. They don’t owe you anything — especially not their valuable time. They don’t get paid to give you feedback so make sure you don’t turn your back on free gifts.

If someone tells you that your work looks great, no comment, it means they didn’t look at your work.

I’ve worked with some of the world’s best artists in the VFX industry. They are the most humble people I have ever met. I remember some of the great ones coming to me for advice on their latest work. I was surprised because they were so much better than me. Why were they coming to me for feedback?

I was later told that they came to me because I was not afraid to point out all their mistakes or areas I felt needed more work. I would tell them this part is really bad and that part makes no sense, what were you thinking?

I could have given them a thumbs up without commenting on their mistakes just because I was starstruck, but what would they get out of that?

If someone tells you that your work looks great, no comment, it means they didn’t look at your work.

Steve Jobs would tell his engineers their work was shit and you would have to convince him why your way was a good way to do it. Imagine what Apple would have been today if he didn’t constantly challenge his engineers like that.¹

Start over and move on

One thing you could do if you feel you are done with a piece is to pick up the feedback and bring it with you for future work. It might not be worth working further on the current piece, but it is important that you remember what didn’t work when you start the next.

I get it. No one likes to hear their work is shit, but sometimes that is the best feedback you can get. Scrapping something you spent hours, days, or weeks on hurts. The best thing you can do is to figure out why it is shit and bring that into your next work. Don’t settle with generic comments like “This is bad, start over”. Be prepared to start over, but dig deeper so you make sure you know what that feedback was all about.

If someone tells you to learn anatomy, maybe you need to take it literally. Does your work have basic issues and are you working on something that you aren’t ready for? Start on page 1 of an anatomy book and take it from there.

What to make of this

Don’t get offended. People are trying to help you. Remember… Free gifts
Dig deep to make sure you get all the feedback out there.
Don’t be afraid to throw your work in the bin and start over.
Don’t look for praise, look for valuable feedback.

You should always dig for critique and never let harsh comments get to you. If you feel that someone straight-up attacked your work, say thank you because now you know those words are the most valuable ones.

If someone tells you to throw your work away and start over, give it a try. You’d be amazed at how quickly you can improve. I have a saying that goes like this:

It will be much better the second time you do it.

The keyword is much. Not only will your work be better the second time, but it will be much better if you are willing to learn and implement new wisdom.

It is always nice with a like and appreciation. I won’t take that away from you. Whatever you do, make sure you value people telling you your work is shit more than those who give you a thumbs up.

This article is proof that feedback helps. Sinem Günel helped me with tons of great comments on my piece and it is almost fully rewritten.

Thank you for your time.

Join my mailing list to stay in touch

Resources

¹ “Steve Jobs” — Walter Isaacson