Review of Receptive and Ready
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[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Receptive and Ready" by Artell Smith and Betsy Hagan.]
Receiving and giving feedback in a work environment has always been challenging for many. The former has received its share of negative light; however, many of us fail to understand how important feedback can be to our growth. Breaking down the input we receive from our boss or peers can help implement positive changes in our work. Receptive and Ready: How to Thrive on Developmental Input by Artell Smith and Betsy Hagan is an exceptional guide that offers a different take on the feedback process. Several books offer tips to the managerial staff on how to provide feedback; however, this is the first book I have read on how the feedback receiver can optimize the developmental feedback they obtain. The book title instantly captured my interest, and I wanted to learn more about this topic.
The authors emphasize that on the path to professional growth, a person can be successful if they are receptive to feedback, actively seeking it, and willing to work on it. Smith and Hagan explain the importance of reflecting on your strengths and weaknesses in order to improve and develop constantly. This kind of self-knowledge also aids in regulating your emotions and behaviors. The authors also highlight the significance of being an active participant in the feedback session by listening, asking questions, and having the emotional intelligence to receive the input. As the book aptly says, “Receiving feedback isn’t a spectator sport.”
I enjoyed reading this book; there were many takeaways for me. The examples shared and the summaries and discussion questions at the end further simplified the topics discussed in the book. It shares not just lessons from the authors but also from other coaches and books. One such chapter that particularly stood out was about analyzing feedback using the STAR (Situation Task Action Result) or the 5 WHY method. Both these methods provide an actionable way to break down the feedback one receives. Another extremely beneficial suggestion was about when to disregard the feedback given. For instance, the authors suggest ignoring feedback when it is influenced by personal bias or when it comes from someone who lacks the required expertise.
Receptive and Ready was an insightful read and helped me understand the feedback process, not just from the receiver’s perspective, but also from that of the giver. One thing I would suggest changing is the chapter summary that’s provided twice: once immediately after the chapter and the second time in the “Chapter Summaries and Discussion Questions” section. This felt repetitive to me; however, it did not affect my rating for the book. I rate Receptive and Ready5 out of 5 stars. It’s an incredibly resourceful book that will help employees and their bosses communicate effectively and collectively work towards professional growth.
Do you fear criticism? Do you want to succeed in your career goals? Are you struggling to decipher your feedback sessions with your manager? If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then you must grab a copy of this practical guide. Artell Smith and Betsy Hagan have been in leadership roles and have tremendous experience in coaching people. Their inputs, along with helpful reading materials towards the end, will empower you to embrace feedback and provide a wealth of information to put you on the path of success. I recommend this book to employees looking to grow, managers wanting to improve their coaching skills, and people at the senior management level who can implement the teachings in this book in their organizational training modules.
******
Receptive and Ready
View: on Bookshelves |
Receiving and giving feedback in a work environment has always been challenging for many. The former has received its share of negative light; however, many of us fail to understand how important feedback can be to our growth. Breaking down the input we receive from our boss or peers can help implement positive changes in our work. Receptive and Ready: How to Thrive on Developmental Input by Artell Smith and Betsy Hagan is an exceptional guide that offers a different take on the feedback process. Several books offer tips to the managerial staff on how to provide feedback; however, this is the first book I have read on how the feedback receiver can optimize the developmental feedback they obtain. The book title instantly captured my interest, and I wanted to learn more about this topic.
The authors emphasize that on the path to professional growth, a person can be successful if they are receptive to feedback, actively seeking it, and willing to work on it. Smith and Hagan explain the importance of reflecting on your strengths and weaknesses in order to improve and develop constantly. This kind of self-knowledge also aids in regulating your emotions and behaviors. The authors also highlight the significance of being an active participant in the feedback session by listening, asking questions, and having the emotional intelligence to receive the input. As the book aptly says, “Receiving feedback isn’t a spectator sport.”
I enjoyed reading this book; there were many takeaways for me. The examples shared and the summaries and discussion questions at the end further simplified the topics discussed in the book. It shares not just lessons from the authors but also from other coaches and books. One such chapter that particularly stood out was about analyzing feedback using the STAR (Situation Task Action Result) or the 5 WHY method. Both these methods provide an actionable way to break down the feedback one receives. Another extremely beneficial suggestion was about when to disregard the feedback given. For instance, the authors suggest ignoring feedback when it is influenced by personal bias or when it comes from someone who lacks the required expertise.
Receptive and Ready was an insightful read and helped me understand the feedback process, not just from the receiver’s perspective, but also from that of the giver. One thing I would suggest changing is the chapter summary that’s provided twice: once immediately after the chapter and the second time in the “Chapter Summaries and Discussion Questions” section. This felt repetitive to me; however, it did not affect my rating for the book. I rate Receptive and Ready5 out of 5 stars. It’s an incredibly resourceful book that will help employees and their bosses communicate effectively and collectively work towards professional growth.
Do you fear criticism? Do you want to succeed in your career goals? Are you struggling to decipher your feedback sessions with your manager? If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then you must grab a copy of this practical guide. Artell Smith and Betsy Hagan have been in leadership roles and have tremendous experience in coaching people. Their inputs, along with helpful reading materials towards the end, will empower you to embrace feedback and provide a wealth of information to put you on the path of success. I recommend this book to employees looking to grow, managers wanting to improve their coaching skills, and people at the senior management level who can implement the teachings in this book in their organizational training modules.
******
Receptive and Ready
View: on Bookshelves |
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