Seeking Feedback:

What Should You Start. Stop. Continue Doing?

By Brittney Dickens, CPA
Senior Tax Accountant, LBMC

Now that Busy Season is behind us, hopefully everyone is taking time off to relax and rejuvenate. However, I have learned that this is also the perfect time to actively seek feedback. Asking for feedback is one of the best ways to feel in control of your work, get an accurate idea of what is expected of you, and judge how you can improve even further. Although feedback is essential for our professional growth, asking for feedback can be a bit intimidating.

One way that I’ve found to effectively seek feedback is to set up a Start/Stop/Continue Meeting with your manager. Start/Stop/Continue meetings create an open feedback platform that encourages a quick and timely evaluation.

1. First, let the other person know you would like feedback by sending a meeting request with “Start/Stop/Continue” in the subject.

2. To help the other person prepare for the meeting, be specific about what you would like feedback on by preparing a set of questions, such as:

START	STOP	CONTINUE
What should I start doing?	What should I stop doing?	What am I doing well that I should continue to do?
What are some things that are not being done, but should be done?	What are things that impede my productivity?	What are things that you want me to keep up?

3. During the meeting, be sure to document responses.

4. Then, set goals with your manager for positive change.

Once you've interpreted the feedback, move forward to make a difference! Acting on the feedback gathered by adjusting our behaviors, attitudes and approaches to improve our perceptions in the workplace is the key to success. But how will we know if those adjustments are resulting in positive growth? Ask for more feedback. I believe it should be an ongoing process that becomes part of our regular business routine. Now go take action!