How am I doing?

Friday, June 3, 2016 Permalink

Yes, you read that title right. It’s a question… not my usual navel-gazing ‘how I’m doing’ type check-in post. And it’s because I’m pondering the notion of feedback – namely – when and how we ask for it.

I started a new job in February. It’s only part-time and a lower level than I used to work. But still challenging in many ways.

When the job was advertised it was located in a town about 90km away, but a regional position, requiring some travel and involving my agency’s eleven ‘offices’ across the region. In my application and subsequent interview I proposed that the position be based in MY hometown, given that travel would be involved anyway. My ‘to-be’ boss agreed and I got the job.

I’ve worked ‘remotely’ before. While doing contract work for a local website development company for a couple of years just after my seachange, I worked with team members located in the US, Sunshine Coast and Japan and I often worked from home. As a result we relied on a heap of online applications for chatting and communication. Obviously there are positives and negatives, but on the whole it was fine and worked well.

It may not surprise you to know that I’m a blithery ‘writer’. I prefer briefing notes, emails (and texts) to phone calls. My boss is the opposite. And that’s fine. We’ve worked out a system that I send him long emails about stuff and he’ll send a short ‘That’s fine,” message back via his iPhone or similar.

asking for feedback

In reality my role is pretty autonomous so I just get on with it. I developed a project / work plan which has been approved and so just do my thing. But a few weeks into the job I asked for feedback. Don’t get me wrong… I wasn’t fishing for compliments; I seriously wanted to know how I (and my work) was going.

He didn’t respond, so when I next saw my boss I referenced that email, asking how he thought things were going. I didn’t want to put him on the spot or for it to be confrontational or awkward in anyway, so attempted to word it in a way that I really wanted to know and giving him options… I asked if there was anything I should be doing more of, less of, anything I should be doing differently.

All was fine, he offered… so I continued on my merry way.

And this past week – nearly four months in – when I saw him I asked the same thing. It occurred to me that he seemed a bit surprised. My question was the same – what does he need from me that I’m not doing / things I should do more / less and so forth. Again he said he was happy with everything.

I pondered this on my drive home and wondered if it’s weird to PROACTIVELY ask for feedback. I know I don’t do it in other environments. I don’t do it on the writing front for example. I’ve been tempted, but haven’t asked readers here what they like / don’t like about my blog and posts.

In government it’s not uncommon to have ‘performance agreements’. Sometimes they’re wanky – just something needing to be done for HR purposes, but as I’ve gotten older (and wiser?) I believe they can have some value.  If you’ve been appointed into a job it’s rare that you don’t have the capacity to do it… so sometimes work performance isn’t about working better, it’s about working differently. It’s about expectations – your own and those around you.

As I’ve worked a lot in project management, I’ve often used the project plans themselves as my performance agreement. Am I delivering on what I’ve proposed?

In this case I don’t have a performance agreement. I’m hitting the targets on my work plan but still asking for feedback. It feels kinda sensible, but now I’m not sure.

Am I alone in this weird work habit?

Linking with With Some Grace to flog my blog this rainy Friday in Queensland.

 

22 Comments
  • kirsty @ My Home Truths
    June 3, 2016

    Belated congrats on the new job Deb. I’ve asked for feedback before and it’s critical now that I’m working on projects for others. I need to know if I’m on the right track. I need to know that I’m giving them what they need. For anyone who takes pride in their work and who wants to keep improving, I don’t think seeking feedback would be seen as odd at all!

    • Debbish
      June 4, 2016

      As yes, the time I spent with the web development company we were always seeking feedback on stuff from clients. As you say… it’s integral as you don’t want to get too far down a path and discover you’re on the wrong one!

  • Jess
    June 3, 2016

    I think it is a really positive to ask for feedback. It has to be easier and less awkward to give it to someone who is proactive. Discuss problems before they are problems etc. Your job sounds interesting!

    • Debbish
      June 4, 2016

      It is Jess. Someone recently asked how it was going / if I was stressed at work and I could say I most definitely wasn’t, which is good.

  • writeofthemiddle
    June 3, 2016

    I think it’s good practice to actively seek feedback on how you’re going and to ask if there is anything you could do more of or less of or do differently. It sure beats finding out down the track out of the blue that they aren’t happy with you about something! Good communication is critical to avoiding nasty surprises or misunderstandings moving forward!

    • Debbish
      June 4, 2016

      True Min and I think – as I don’t see my boss much – I’ve been a bit more proactive in doing that. If I saw him everyday or more often I’d probably get an idea of how things were from his manner.

  • maxtheunicorn
    June 3, 2016

    I don’t think it’s weird to ask! I like how you negotiated the job in the beginning and congrats on your new role. I’m sure he would tell you if you were doing anything wrong, so it really must be all good!

    Di from Max The Unicorn

    • Debbish
      June 4, 2016

      I hope so… I’ve only ever really had trouble with one superior and that particular person alternated between thinking I was the best thing since sliced bread and being grumpy at me for various things. She ran a bit hot and cold though so I did realise it wasn’t just me…

  • Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid
    June 4, 2016

    I don’t think it’s weird to ask at all. On the contrary, I think it’s positive and constructive. I think it’s best to know what’s working well and what if anything, isn’t going so great, as you go along. I think feedback is so important, especially when you’re in a relatively new job.

    • Debbish
      June 4, 2016

      I think so Sammie – particularly in this case in the way I communicate with my boss as we’re very different in that respect and he’s tied up a lot and I’m only part-time. I find emailing is best so he can just respond when he has time. I often have to send a reminder (cos he has a lot going on) but that’s something I’m now aware of and need to factor that into my schedule.

  • Karen
    June 4, 2016

    I’ve worked independently from home for almost 26 years and i rarely hear any kind of feedback except during review time. I strive to get my work done on time, go the extra mile, and offer suggestions on more efficient use of time. I like feedback, but don’t usually ask because answering those kinds of questions requires attention of my supervisors that they could give to other needs. but mostly, I think supervisors are so busy with putting out fires and dealing with those who don’t do what’s expected that they are glad when something IS working that doesn’t require their constant attention. good luck on your new job!

    • Debbish
      June 4, 2016

      Thanks Karen. I know in the past I’ve often been surprised when a supervisor has said something nice about my work, though mostly assume things are okay unless they say something. As a manager myself I tried to provide positive feedback but am pretty certain I didn’t always do a good job of that either.

  • Emma
    June 4, 2016

    I think it’s really important to request feedback but it should also be given freely and I think it’s the constructive giving that’s a problem for people. People are often happy to say good job but not that things could be better because they see it as telling of, which it isn’t. I think feedback for me is beyond having done your agreed job but it can be about behaviour etc.

    • Debbish
      June 5, 2016

      Very true Emma. As I said in the post I’m conscious that I’m working pretty autonomously and achieving the milestones I’ve set but needed to make sure the way in which I’m doing it is okay as I have quite a few stakeholders.

  • Sarah @sarahdipity
    June 4, 2016

    I think it’s always a good thing to ask for feedback, it helps us to know we’re on the right track. sounds like your new boss isn’t much of a talker!

    • Debbish
      June 5, 2016

      He’s actually a big talker and not a big emailer… but needs a bit of time to warm up I think. And I guess it’s important that I learn that stuff.

  • Char
    June 5, 2016

    It’s a mature thing to ask for feedback. I know that my middle son would never do it because he’d be scared of the answer. But to me it’s the best way of finding out if there’s anything you can tweak to make yourself a better employee.

    • Debbish
      June 5, 2016

      Very true Char! And perhaps you’re right… it does come with maturity!

  • Michelle Weaver (@pinkypoinker)
    June 5, 2016

    I ask for feedback but I suppose it’s just verification I’m not doing anything wrong. I HATE criticism so I only ask if I’m positive it will be a good review 🙂 In my job it’s mandatory that we reflect and seek feedback from the students and admin. Sounds like you’re all round awesome.

    • Debbish
      June 5, 2016

      Ha! I don’t think so Michelle but I suspect I don’t broadly ask for feedback on my writing for the same reasons as you – the concern re criticism. I still get a bit nervous about submitting ‘big’ documents and writing for others.

  • yinyangmother
    June 11, 2016

    I don’t think it’s weird to ask – we all need some reassurances at times. When I’ve supervised people I’ve always tried to provide positive and constructive feedback. Sounds like it is going well – your boss is probably the type that doesn’t give much feedback at all unless something is wrong – which clearly it’s not! Hope you are setltling into the balance in the part-time work and your writing/blogging/personal goals.

    • Debbish
      June 12, 2016

      Thanks Kathy. Still working on that elusive ‘balance’ but getting there. Slowly.

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