Facing Feedback or I Want to be Like Jiro

Over the past three months I have been doing a 'post preach' debrief session with one or two other leaders. 


Its nothing crazy, after youth we grab a seat at a coffee shop or restaurant and I get feedback on the talk.


This has been one of the most difficult and helpful exercises to help me grow as a speaker and youth worker.


I recently watched a documentary called "Jiro Dreams of Sushi". Jiro is an 85 year old sushi chef from tokyo and he is considered, by some critics, as the best in the world.


He has been making sushi for more that 70 years and he says that he is still trying to improve his craft.  


I want to be like Jiro:  Always improving. 

Of course, all of this applies to more than speaking.  The same can be said of our small group questions, games, worship, leaders training and every other component of our youth ministry.


Here are some ways to help receive good feedback


1. Ask Good Questions
Don't sit down and aimlessly discuss the youth night. 
Approach each aspect specifically and ask pointed questions
-What worked well?
-What did not go well?
-What can I do better next time?
The more specific the better! For example consider the preach.
-How was the introduction?  Did it grab the audience?
-Did the analogy make sense?
-How was my tone?
-Was the application age appropriate?
-Did i accomplish my goal of "..."?
etc. 


2. Pick the Right People
The people that you welcome to give you feedback is crucial.  Pick people who are honest - you need someone who won't tell you the stuff you want to hear. Pick people you trust - you need to know that they have the right motives and they are not looking to tear you down.  


3. Just Take It
This is the hardest part for me.  I am always tempted to explain away every piece of feedback and provide an explanation for everything I did or did not do.  If you do this you will never get anywhere and over time those giving you feedback will get fatigued and give up and you will never become better.  


4.  Do Better
Getting the feedback is like ripping off a band aid -Its stings but it goes quick.  Applying the feedback is like doing physiothearapy - it can be slow going and uncomfortable. We all have patterns and part of applying feedback is breaking those patterns and building new ones.  
To make changes we have to be intentional.  For me, I need to take time to chew on the feedback on separate occasion.  Soak it up, wright it down and pick it up latter.  

Jason is the director of campusfire, a ministry partnering with local churches to empower high school students to reach their schools. Jason graduated from Simon Fraser University in 2010. He has been married to Rachael for two and a half years.  They have a desire to see students live out their faith in the midst of culture, and to encourage them to lead their friends to Jesus.

www.campusfire.com