We all love getting positive feedback. The kind that says our work matters and that we’re making a difference. And let’s be honest, sometimes, that’s all we want.
But there’s another kind of feedback. The kind that shakes you up and makes you pause and think, “Wait, but I thought I was already good at this.” It’s the feedback that says, “Yes, you’re doing well, but there’s still more room to grow.” And when you first listen to it, your instinct might be to feel slightly annoyed or defensive.
I’ve experienced this firsthand.
For instance, I’ve always enjoyed writing. Ever since childhood, it has been my thing. I wrote poems, essays, and thoughts just for the joy of it. And for the longest time, I assumed that because I loved writing, I must be good at it.
Then, one day, I received feedback that changed everything. A friend said, “Writing isn’t therapy. It’s a craft. If you’re dumping thoughts on the page, you’re being lazy. Sculpt your ideas. Cut the fluff. Sharpen every sentence. Make each word earn its place. Respect the reader. Be clear.”
As someone who had spent years writing, this hit me in a way I didn’t expect. It took a while to accept that maybe there was another level I hadn’t yet reached.
So I leaned into it.
I started this blog. At first, I just wrote the way I always had, pouring my thoughts onto the page. But then, I consciously began to refine my work. If something felt unclear, I rewrote it. I used the Hemingway app to test readability. If my writing was too dense, I simplified it. I wasn’t just writing anymore; I was sculpting.
And something incredible happened.
It wasn’t just my writing that improved. My entire approach to communication evolved. At work, I started explaining complex ideas in more straightforward ways. While conversing, I focused on articulating my points instead of making them sound impressive. I learned that good communication isn’t about using fancy words or sounding intellectual. It’s about being understood.
That one piece of feedback had a ripple effect on every part of my life.
This is why I love feedback that challenges me. The kind that forces me to confront my own blind spots. It’s easy to believe we’ve already done our best and maxed out our potential. But when someone we trust says, “Hey, there’s something more you could do here,” they’re not questioning our talent. They’re showing us what’s possible if we go deeper.
So the next time you receive feedback that surprises you and makes you defensive, don’t dismiss it. Sit with it. Probe into it. Because sometimes, the feedback that feels the hardest to hear is the very thing that will make you unstoppable.
Akkshaya Varkhedi 