Career Lesson From A Director Business Operations At A Top Entertainment Company
Colin, a Director of Business Operations at a Fortune 100 entertainment company, emphasizes the critical career lesson of learning to take feedback, advising to "internalize it, understand where that feedback is coming from," and demonstrating understanding by mirroring it back. This approach fosters trust and showcases a willingness to learn and improve, ultimately benefiting career progression.
Communication, Feedback, Leadership, Professional Development, Career Advice
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
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Traits
Colin Sommer
Director, Business Operations
Fortune 100 Entertainment Company
Chapman University
USC: Master of Communication Management; UCLA: Master of Business Administration
Advertising, Public Relations
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Operations and Project Management
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member, LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Learn how to take feedback without being defensive.
2. Understand the feedback giver's perspective.
3. Show you've learned from the feedback by changing behavior and showing appreciation for the advice given
Transcript
What is one lesson that you've learned in your career that has proven significant for you?
Here is one lesson that applies to every single industry, functional area, and role that I believe will lead one to success. That is, learn how to take feedback.
Don't get defensive. Internalize it, understand where that feedback is coming from. Step into someone else's shoes for a moment and understand what their perspective was.
Try to mirror back some of that feedback to them to make sure that they understand you grasp what they were trying to get across. Most importantly, learn from it.
What are you going to do next time? How are you going to proactively show this person that you took their feedback to heart? That does a few things. It shows someone that you trust their opinion.
Especially with a boss, that will put you in good grace with them. Generally, people who give advice do so with good intentions. They do not give advice just to impose authority; they do it to help out others who have been in the same situation.
So, I will say this one more time: my biggest piece of advice for someone, regardless of industry, is to learn how to take feedback. Internalize it, don't be defensive, and learn from it.
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