All you need to do is be you, keep cutting through the BS, and the rest will fall into line. There will always be Haters.

REBOOT

Working in communications, I find that the problem with feedback is often that it is opinion disguised as feedback.

Real feedback should clarify what the problem or benefit is to you at the receiving end.

For example your “feedbackers” should have explained how you and your readers are could be negatively impacted from a lack of focus on work and the global economy – or how having a reason to care more about you would help them to connect with your writings. For eg. Laurie I’d really like to hear more about who you are and what you stand for as I think it would help me to understand where you’re coming from.

Feedback should be constructed with the receiver in mind – not just so that you can get your opinion off your chest.

I think if more people took this approach F word wouldn’t be so hard on the ears.

Personally, I think the last thing most people want to see is another blog on work and the global economy so please don’t change!

And p.s., I guessed that the feedback came from two people. Still seems kinda odd that two people can walk away with such different takes on the same thing. It’s good that you hear it, but in the big scheme of things it may say more about them than it does you.

You post relevant, thought provoking stuff in a non-jackassery way. In having open-ended questions…you invite people to respond and connect and communicate…which is what all this social media blogging broo-ha-ha is all about, right?

(btw, I think the second comment about the “people who think seriously about work” crap makes me want to hurl. Really? They can go on over to CNBC.com or what the eff ever and read their blogs…douchebag.)

Anyways, I friggin love your blog. And I get tons of positive feedback from it when MY friends and colleagues read posts (see when I retweet or facebook link your shiz). Just sayin’

@Sue Thanks, dahhhling. You are so awesome.

@HRJessie You have four cats? That is so neat. I didn’t know there were fellow crazy HR cat lovers like me. Maybe we need a blog for that??

@BZ I am not going to say that the negative criticism doesn’t bother me. I do give it some thought to clarify my own artistic ideals, but I don’t let it bring me down. If anything, it fires me up to show my critics how irrelevant they are to me. Snap. So perfect. This is why I adore you and admire you. When someone hands me a bag of money, there will be an investment in Brewskie Inc.

@HRHooligan I suggested we stop using the term “feedback” because I think it’s sort of general and I also think it scares some people. People don’t want to do something they think is scary. That is so true. Like the way you don’t say “vet” to a dog!

@Patrick Thank you. The feedback came from two different people. You know you have my support, my gratitude, and my enduring love. FEEL BETTER! Also, I’ll be back in early December and we must, must, must do something fun. Think restaurants. My treat, yo.

@Karen Wow, thank you. Such a nice comment!

@Kevin Don’t get me wrong. I liked to be liked. It’s always been my nature. It took me a long time not to take things personally. I don’t think you ever really get past it. But hold on to the constructive commentary that makes you see your own content differently, evolving your thought processes and I trust makes us a little more intuitive. This was so important for me to read. Thank you.

@Margo We’re fellow wincers and I had no idea you were going to #HRevolution. Yeah. See you on Saturday!

@NZ This is why I love you.

@Steve People don’t want feedback unfortunately. Listen, I want feedback. I never want to be the last one in the room to know that I suck. I want to be on top of my suckiness. It’s just hard to know what’s genuine and what is bullshit. So now I’m paranoid and either think that everyone hates me and wants to bring me down (not true) or that everyone knows something that I don’t know about myself and that I’m doing it wrong (also not true). The paranoid part of my brain gets activated quite easily due to the number of voices on this blog — but I’m learning to channel the voices and discern them differently (& I realize that I’m sounding schizophrenic).

1. I adore you
2. It’s hilarious
3. It makes me think
4. It doesn’t contain bull crap
5. It’s about being a whole person, with a full life (warts and all) at work. It’s about how work isn’t the only thing in people’s lives.
6. It’s the opposite of naive
7. It’s NOT fluffy. It’s real.

Ways I find out if something is given in a spirit of helpfulness (if I’m initially not sure) include asking:

1. Can you tell me more about that (suggestion)? or Can you tell me more about what you mean by (insert phrasing I’m not sure about)?
2. Paraphrase what the person says back to them and wait for them to correct me (or not).

Ways I react when I think the feedback is stupid:
1. “Thanks for the feedback”
2. “Calm down, dude”
3. “Um, ok”
4. Other, snarky comment (Yes, I’m defensive. Sue me)

Ways I react when I think the feedback is good:
1. “You know what? You’re right”
2. “I’m so glad you told me”
3. “Oh, man. I had no idea….”

Isn’t this whole social media thing about engagement? So else gets 53 comments on a post?

Can’t please everyone. You seem to be pleasing plenty. You keep me coming back with your wide variety of postings and humor.

Thanks for what you do. When I “grow up”, I want to be Laurie Ruettimann. You rock, Baby!