How do you ask for feedback at work?

Ask soon after a specific piece of work, ask one person, and ask a question that’s easy to answer honestly, such as “What’s one thing I could have done better in that meeting?” A general “Any thoughts?” usually gets a polite nothing.

Why don’t people give me feedback?

Often because the last time didn’t seem worth it: you explained, defended or nothing changed. People keep giving feedback when they see you hear it out, act on it and tell them what you did. The test shows which of those steps is weakest.

How is the Feedback Appetite score worked out?

Each answer runs from 1 (never) to 5 (always). Four of the ten questions describe a healthy habit and are flipped, so every answer measures how far feedback gets stuck. The average becomes a score from 0 to 100; the two areas where it sticks most are shown first. It’s a reflection, not a verdict.

Is Feedback Appetite free, and who sees my answers?

It’s free with no sign-up. Your answers and score stay in your browser; Coach42 never sees them.

Test 04 · Stepping up

Feedback Appetite

Asking for feedback is easy. Wanting it is the skill.

LiveSelf

Take Feedback Appetite

The short answer

Feedback Appetite is a free self-test on what you do with feedback, from asking for it to telling people what changed. Ten questions cover four areas: asking for it, hearing it out, acting on it and closing the loop. You get a feedback appetite score out of 100, the two areas where feedback gets stuck, and one fix for each.

Drafted with AI for Jay Sampat, Chief Mirror Holder · coach review pending

Who it’s for: Anyone about to lead who wants to know how open they really are to hearing the hard thing.
What you get: A feedback appetite score out of 100, the two areas where feedback gets stuck, and one thing to try on Monday for each.

The review comment you’re still quietly arguing with three weeks later.

Try a question now

In the last month, I changed my mind because of something a junior person said.

A question from The 42 Test that touches this topic.

Feedback Appetite

Why does feedback appetite matter before you lead?

Because once you lead, people stop volunteering the truth unless you’ve shown it’s safe and worth it. Asking for feedback is easy. Wanting it, hearing it out, doing something with it and telling the person what changed is the skill, and it’s much easier to build before a team depends on you.

Take Feedback Appetite: ten questions, about three minutes. Answer for the last few months, not your best week.

What does the test look at?

Four areas, two or three questions each:

Asking for it. Whether you go looking for feedback, and ask questions that are easy to answer honestly.
Hearing it out. Whether you listen to the end before explaining or judging.
Acting on it. Whether something specific changes afterwards.
Closing the loop. Whether the person finds out what you did with it.

What do I get at the end?

A feedback appetite score out of 100 and the two areas where feedback gets stuck, each with one thing to try on Monday, such as saying only “Thanks, tell me more” until the other person has finished. The bands are “Hungry for it” (70 and above), “Open, in places” (40 to 69) and “Keeping it at arm’s length” (below 40).

How is it worked out?

Each answer runs from 1 (never) to 5 (always). Four of the ten questions describe a healthy habit, such as “I tell the person what I did with their feedback”, and are flipped before scoring. Each area’s average shows how much feedback sticks there. The overall average becomes the score, from 0 (it rarely gets through) to 100 (it flows).

The questions, areas, bands and advice are a draft written with AI and are waiting for a coach’s review. Treat the result as a mirror, not a verdict.

What should I read or take next?

Read how to take feedback without getting defensive for what to say in the moment. Once you lead a team, how to find out what your team really thinks of you is the next step. The 42 Test gives you a private read on how you lead today, and the Stepping up page has every tool for this moment.

Drafted with AI · coach review pending

Questions people ask

How do you ask for feedback at work?: Ask soon after a specific piece of work, ask one person, and ask a question that’s easy to answer honestly, such as “What’s one thing I could have done better in that meeting?” A general “Any thoughts?” usually gets a polite nothing.
Why don’t people give me feedback?: Often because the last time didn’t seem worth it: you explained, defended or nothing changed. People keep giving feedback when they see you hear it out, act on it and tell them what you did. The test shows which of those steps is weakest.
How is the Feedback Appetite score worked out?: Each answer runs from 1 (never) to 5 (always). Four of the ten questions describe a healthy habit and are flipped, so every answer measures how far feedback gets stuck. The average becomes a score from 0 to 100; the two areas where it sticks most are shown first. It’s a reflection, not a verdict.
Is Feedback Appetite free, and who sees my answers?: It’s free with no sign-up. Your answers and score stay in your browser; Coach42 never sees them.

More tests for stepping up

01Ready to Lead?LiveStepping up · How ready you are for a first management role
02The Expert TrapLiveStepping up · How much you still rely on doing instead of enabling
03Influence Without a TitleLiveStepping up · How you get things done without authority
05Peer to BossLiveStepping up · Where the friend-to-manager shift will get awkward
06Career CompassLiveStepping up · Whether the manager track or the expert track suits you

Stepping up: all six tests and posts

From the Question Library

How do you go from individual contributor to manager?Stepping up · 9 min read
How do you lead without being in charge?Stepping up · 8 min read
How do you take feedback without getting defensive?Stepping up · 9 min read

I tell people the hard thing within a week, not at review time.

Drafted with AI · coach review pending