Handling Negative Feedback as a Health & Fitness Podcaster

Handling Negative Feedback as a Health & Fitness Podcaster

Have you ever wondered how to turn feedback into a powerful tool for growth? Hi, I’m Jamie Kennedy, the Executive Podcast Producer of Brave Moon Podcasts. In this episode, I explore the crucial role feedback plays in personal and professional development.

Sharing my personal experiences, I highlight how embracing feedback has been a lifelong journey for me and discuss how to separate negative feedback from personal rejection to leverage constructive criticism for growth. I'll offer practical tips on how to ask for and handle feedback effectively.

I emphasize the tools and resources available for starting a podcast from home, showcasing that quality podcasting can be achieved on a budget. Whether you are a health and fitness coach or a small business owner, understanding the value of feedback and implementing key strategies can help you build a successful podcast that resonates with your audience.

In this episode, we talk about…

• The personal journey of learning to accept and process feedback without feeling rejected.

• Practical steps and tips for asking for and handling feedback constructively.

• Essential tools and resources for starting a podcast from home on a budget.

Transcribed Podcast Episode

Did you know that I listened to every single suggestion and negative feedback I receive about this podcast? No matter how negative or positive it is, I take the time to digest it, comprehend it, and then take action on it. This is not an easy feat. For years growing up, I looked at all forms of negative feedback as rejection. The worst feeling would just wash over me to the point where I wanted to bury my head in the ground.

So being open to hearing every single piece of feedback has been a feat in its own. It's been a lifelong journey to be able to get to this point. And frankly, I am still working on it. I'm here today to talk to you about feedback and being able to separate negative feedback from actual rejection and being able to look at even positive feedback objectively and to understand that no form of feedback has any direct reflection on you as a special, unique human you are.

If you can do this, if you can open yourself up to feedback, you will quickly find a road to growth and building your podcast for the better.

First, you should know a little about what I do at Brave Moon Podcast. I am a podcast producer and I help busy creators, small business owners, and wellnesspreneurs launch and build successful podcasts from home. And home is exactly where I am right now, in the little bedroom turned office tucked into the back corner of the apartment I share with my husband and my rescue dog, Riggs. To learn more about what I do, you can jump on my website and be sure to download my free start a podcast guide.

You will find all of these links to these helpful items in my show notes. If you're brand new to the podcast and stumbled on this episode first, welcome. I'm so excited you're here. And if you're a returning listener, thank you for being here. If you haven't already, be sure to leave a five-star review so other creators and small business owners can find the podcast too. Okay, it's time to get really vulnerable here. Being open to feedback and rejection. This one is so hard for me.

Is it hard for you too? The older I get, the more I realize just how paralyzing it is to receive feedback and take it as rejection to the point that we give up on our dreams. To be honest, rejection and negative feedback has stopped me in my tracks multiple times, particularly in my career. I'd argue that it was when I started my own business that I started letting other people's opinions affect my next action, whether it was to give up or pivot or what have you.

But I'd be lying because frankly, I know this about myself and probably from a very young age, I equated negative feedback to rejection. Feeling I somehow wasn't good enough or that I wasn't perfect, it paralyzed me, sending me deep into the darkest corners of my mind, wondering if I was capable of, well, anything. I'm not going to say this is fixed in me completely now, but what I've discovered with awareness of this tendency, I can now

distance myself from it. I can see the negative feedback train coming and I can choose to get on it and wallow in self pity and feelings of rejection. Or I can wave to it as it passes by and say to myself, I recognize that their feedback is not about me, but rather about something I've produced. And that's okay. It's not a reflection of who I am as a human. And there is something for me to learn here. I think a lot of people forget that our growth and our ability to better ourselves is a life long process.

I don't just wake up one day and say, yep, healed, your words can't hurt me. But instead I can become aware of my triggers and consciously make the choice to adjust my thinking toward the feedback. And I should also say now that I don't necessarily even look at feedback as negative or positive anymore. The truth of the matter is that we all come from different perspectives, different worlds built into the folds of our complex brains. And that means that any feedback you receive from an external source is about them.

not you. This allows a special distancing for me that can help let go of the feelings like they rejected me. Because first and foremost, their feedback isn't a rejection. That was my own connection I made in my brain and has nothing to do with the feedback received. And yes, I mentioned positive feedback too, because again, I don't let positive feedback make me feel approval. Instead, I take it subjectively as well. How can this feedback help me produce something differently?

Is this feedback that others might also provide to me as well? So when you approach feedback in this way, I think you're ultimately setting yourself up for way more success because you've not attributed feedback toward the value of you as a human being or your place or status on earth. Instead, you're able to hear the feedback objectively and ask yourself if it should affect change in an objective way. So the reason I'm bringing this up is because I received some feedback on the first two episodes of my podcast.

First and foremost, I asked for the feedback. 10 years ago, you would have never heard me asking for feedback from anyone. That's a sign of growth, eh? I asked for feedback and it really worked. People really showed up for me and gave me some great feedback. First step, I consciously separated the feedback from my own value as a human or the podcast I had created. After all, we only know what we know going in. We are allowed to change, we are allowed to grow, and that's part of being human. Thank goodness.

First action was to objectively research the findings. I analyzed each piece of feedback, I looked at the numbers, insights from my listener retention rate, I reached out to a couple more listeners I knew were turning in, and I also asked myself, if I were a podcaster, what would I wanna hear? From there, I had one more action to make for each piece of feedback. I had to decide where I would reject the feedback and action it by responding back to the feedbacker with gratitude.

and a solid explanation for why I would keep the podcast as it is, or accept it and action it by not only responding back to the feedbacker with the things, but also actually doing the thing and changing the podcast. And so after review and contemplation, I ultimately decided that I would adjust my plan for this podcast accordingly. So here's my five direct hacks you can run away with the day that will help to accept and take on feedback.

Hack number 1.

The first step to accepting feedback is to ask for it. This shows that you are open to learning and growing. You can ask for feedback from your listeners directly, colleagues, clients, or even friends and family. And when you do ask for it, be sure to prepare. What is it that you want to get out of learning from their feedback? You can even prompt the feedback by saying, for example, what do you think of my outro? Should I include anything else? Prompting the feedback will ensure that you're getting the feedback that you desire in return.

Hack number 2.

When you receive feedback, it's important to listen actively. This means paying attention to what the person is saying, asking clarifying questions, and avoiding interrupting. It is also important to be open to hearing both positive and negative feedback.

Hack number 3.

Once you have received feedback, take some time to process it. This may mean thinking about it on your own, talking to a trusted friend or colleague, or journaling about it.

It also means doing some market research to make sure that the feedback is valid for your business and podcast. Remember that everyone is coming from their own world perspective, so you don't have to take on every piece of feedback as your truth.

Hack number 4.

Feedback is often an opportunity to learn and grow. Be open to making changes based on the feedback you receive. This may mean changing your work habits, your communication style, or even your way of thinking.

Hack number 5.

Be sure to thank the person for taking the time to give you feedback. This shows that you appreciate their input and that you are serious about using it to improve. And speaking of which, this podcast, this episode is a two-way conversation. If you do have any feedback, I would so love to hear from you. I'm available via DM on Instagram and I can't wait to chat with you. Topics to cover could include podcasting from home, owning your own business, my dog Riggs or how great tacos are.

Thanks so much for tuning in to the shorter episode of Start a Podcast from Home. And as always, remember that consistency, authenticity, and promoting your podcast are key to your success.

Embracing Feedback and Rejection

Remember, feedback is a valuable resource for continuous development, and your willingness to embrace it will set you on the path to success in podcasting. 'The Fearless Podcaster’s ToolKit' is your toolkit for navigating feedback and rejection with confidence.

Struggling with handling feedback on your podcast?

Download our free guide, Launch Your Podcast Fearlessly, and learn how to navigate feedback with confidence while building a show your audience loves!

Happy podcasting!

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