The fourth day of training focused mainly on giving and receiving feedback, a part I particularly enjoyed. I received feedback from seven other people in my team.
The feedback aligned with my self-perception: positive, curious, eager to learn and apply new knowledge, observant, empathetic, sociable, receptive to feedback, and accountable.
One surprising piece of feedback came from my trainer, who described me as having a “strong personality” – a descriptor I hadn’t considered before. There were a couple of instances where I raised my voice to ensure everyone listened, as my energetic team tended to talk over each other despite agreeing to take turns speaking. My trainer admitted to being initially surprised, expecting me to be typically polite and gentle, given my Asian background. However, witnessing the assertiveness in my voice and seriousness in my expression made him think twice. He humorously remarked, “I didn’t want to mess with her in that moment!” As part of my personal development, he suggested experimenting with both polite and assertive responses to determine the most effective approach for different situations.
Another feedback that delighted me came from a teammate, a Scrum Master
“When I first saw you, I thought, woah such a powerful lady! However, during the group work, you became softer and gentle, you took a step back to overserve and listen more. I really admire that you know what you want, and you will speak up for that. After our training sessions, during our casual gathering, there was a different version of you, you told stories, and you were so funny.”
When I inquired about areas for improvement, she couldn’t pinpoint any glaring weaknesses. Instead, she expressed her belief that I possess the qualities needed to excel as a team lead, manager, or Scrum Master 😁.
