We all know that dreaded feeling of opening up the document that contains feedback you've waited on for so long and seeing all those red marks and comments on the sideline. How can you deal with that feeling in the best possible way?
Here are 6 useful and comforting tips on dealing with (negative) feedback!
1. You don’t have to accept all comments
Some of the feedback will be important, some absolutely irrelevant, and some feedback might not be exactly on point but will lead you to an issue you missed before. You are not the same person as your reviewer, so your views and opinions won’t be a perfect fit. And that’s okay. The key to receiving feedback is figuring out how to use it in the best way.
2. If your feedback giver didn’t understand something, it’s not their fault
Consider how the reviewer came to misunderstand your text. What do you need to rephrase or add so others won’t get sidetracked either? Perhaps you’ve made a leap in your thinking that you need to clarify so others can follow it, too. Helpful here is to also think about the curse of knowledge, which Steven Pinker describes in his book, The Sense of Style. He explains:
“When you know something, it’s hard to imagine what it’s like for someone else to not know it.”
3. Remember that feedback is a gift
Try to remember that when people engage with you and your work, it’s a wonderful thing that they are giving their time and energy to you. Without their critical feedback, your text would not be as good.
4. You are not your paper
Distance yourself from the paper. You are amazing regardless of whether your paper is amazing or not!
5. Take some time to digest the feedback
When you receive the feedback, quickly scan over the comments, but don’t think or analyze too much. Before getting into the feedback, immediately send the reviewer a friendly reply, thanking them for their time. Mention that you’re going to take some time to look into their comments.
And then actually do that: Take some time to digest the feedback, give yourself some distance. If it hurts, feels unfair, or annoys you... Let it rest for a while (a day, a week!). Then, open up the feedback again and give it a proper read. The point is that you need some time off from it before you are ready to deal with the advice and suggestions.
6. Categorize the feedback
If the feedback feels overwhelming and you don’t know where to start, try to categorize the comments.
You will find comments that are…
… helpful and will improve your paper. In this case, you should make the change.
… issues of personal style. In this case, consider whether or not it will make your article fit the target journal better. If yes, make the change.
… confusing or poorly explained. In this case, ask the reviewer for clarity.
… showing that the reviewer didn't understand or misread your work. In this case, consider why they misunderstood and how you can make sure others won’t.
… ones you will disagree with. In this case, find a second or even third opinion. Carefully phrase why you disagree.
… contradicting each other. In this case, find a middle ground. Carefully explain your decision.