You may have heard that to be a great writer, you must consistently hone your skills. While this is true, paralegals who write without the help and guidance of experienced professionals risk reinforcing bad habits and developing tunnel vision about their work.
However, seeking and receiving feedback is more difficult said than done, so I am providing tips to ensure your hard work will pay off to reach your full potential.
Be Receptive
One of the most significant barriers to gathering feedback is being receptive. Criticism may raise our defenses because it challenges our self-perception, and negative feedback may make us feel inept or inadequate.
Still, awareness lets one address one’s strengths and weaknesses, leading to improvement.
For example, even though one may not realize they struggle in an area such as brevity or punctuation, being privy to this lets one be more conscientious of these mistakes when revising and editing their drafts. This will ensure these mistakes do not emerge when they matter, like when presenting documents to court.
Find the Right Critic
Choosing a suitable person to provide feedback is essential to ensure you receive helpful and relevant critiques tailored to your needs.
Knowledge /Background: Ensure the person has relevant experience or expertise in the specific area you need feedback on. Their knowledge should align with your goals. Research them by checking their online presence or asking them directly about their experience.
Communication Style: Look for someone who can understand your goals and deliver feedback in a constructive, actionable way that resonates with you. Harsh critics may discourage rather than enlighten. Receiving criticism may be uncomfortable, but one never has to bear it through abusive and offensive comments.
Stage of Development: An editor may be best for polishing grammar, while an experienced professional could assist with copyright ideas/concepts if you’re still drafting.
Show Appreciation
Provide Feedback
Often, in working relationships, one must be reciprocal. Providing feedback is as important
as receiving feedback. Assessing other people’s work can help you reflect on your own and practice your ability to evaluate your work. It is also common for individuals to inadvertently project their shortcomings onto others. So, if you critique someone for being long-winded, it may reflect your tendency to struggle with conciseness.
Just as you want constructive comments, you must be able to deliver quality feedback.
Ask about Feedback Expectations
Before marking up others’ work, you must understand what they are looking for. Do they want help with brainstorming, organization, or grammar? Communicating your role as a critic will help you deliver quality feedback.
Be aware if the person wants feedback. People can share work but may not be looking for feedback. If it is not a critical mistake, such as a name misspelling, asking if they are open
to your comments can be good practice. How they receive your offer may depend on the relationship.