3 Sources of Feedback You Must Use to Improve in Anything
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This is the simple formula for constant and never-ending improvement (CANI) in anything:
- do the thing
- listen to the feedback
- analyze and assess the feedback
- adjust and tweak
- repeat
The linchpin of this process is the feedback. Doing something repeatedly, without more, will not help you improve. You may get faster at doing the thing, such that you can do more of it within a certain time frame, but your quality won’t necessarily improve.
Here are the three feedback channels that will help you on your path of CANI.
(1) Self-Assessment
The most effective learning is experiential. Cognitive understanding happens in the mind, but true knowledge is embodied. It comes only from experience. This is why doing the thing you want to improve is a crucial first step.
Studies show that self-reflection and self-assessment can improve performance dramatically. Reflection provides a structure in which to make sense of learning. This helps us take concepts and theories and put them into practice.
When we can critically appraise what we experienced via practice, we can improve ongoing practice by using the information and knowledge we are gaining from the experience.
A consistent ritual of self-reflection opens us to see patterns in our work. This helps us create a more direct path to the results we desire.
The most effective way to do this type of reflection is through journaling. Don’t just write down the bullets of what you did; this isn’t about time tracking. Writing about what you did will yield the insights that lead to improvement.
But self-reflection is not enough.
(2) Collaborative Assessment
One study in the academic context showed that although self-reflection on both how and what students learned led to improvements in academic performance, the improvements were limited.
Other research suggests that reflective assessment is most effective when it involves others. This offers the chance to collaborate…
