1 SENTENCE SUMMARY: This book provides readers with a clear and supportive framework for understanding and navigating feedback, so that they can better understand themselves, their relationships, and their impact on the world.
“When we make the effort to seek out and accept feedback, we are practicing a form of self- care and self- awareness that strengthens our relationships and makes us better people.”
Quick Info

Category: Communication Skills
Publish Date: 2015-03-31
# Pages: 368
ISBN: 0143127136
Where to Get It:
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Table of Contents
Overview
Douglas Stone’s Thanks for the Feedback is a book focused on the process of giving and receiving feedback.
In it, Stone explores the various types of feedback people can receive and how to use it to improve personal and professional relationships.
He discusses how to identify the underlying message in feedback, how to give feedback in a way that is constructive and helpful, and how to respond to feedback in a way that is beneficial to both parties.
The book is filled with insight and practical advice to help readers create a culture of feedback within their own lives and communities.
Thanks for the Feedback is an essential guide for anyone looking to improve their communication skills and build better relationships.
4 Key Lessons from Thanks for the Feedback by Douglas Stone
1. Understand Your Personal Triggers
In Thanks for the Feedback, Douglas Stone explains that learning to understand your personal triggers is essential to being able to effectively handle difficult feedback from others.
By understanding the emotional reactions you have to feedback, you can better prepare yourself for the emotional responses and stay focused on the content of the feedback.
This will help you to more objectively evaluate the feedback and help you to determine the best course of action to take in response.
2. Know What Kind of Feedback You Need
Stone also emphasizes the importance of understanding what kind of feedback is most beneficial for you.
He encourages readers to ask for specific feedback that you need, rather than general feedback that may not be beneficial for your growth.
Knowing how to ask for the feedback you need will help you to focus your efforts on the areas of development that will have the greatest impact on your success.
3. Be Open to Different Perspectives
According to Stone, it is important to be open to different perspectives when receiving feedback.
By being open to different perspectives, you can gain valuable insight into how others view the situation and can better understand the underlying motivations of the person giving the feedback.
This will help you to interpret the feedback more accurately and make better decisions in response.
4. Offer Constructive Feedback
Finally, Stone encourages readers to become skilled at offering constructive feedback of their own.
By offering feedback in a constructive manner, you can help the person receiving the feedback to better understand the situation and improve their performance.
Additionally, providing constructive feedback will help to create a more positive atmosphere and increase the likelihood that feedback will be received positively.
Who Should Read It
This book is recommended for anyone in the professional world who has to give or receive feedback.
It is especially useful for managers, HR personnel, teachers, coaches, and any other professionals who need to give and/or receive feedback on a daily basis.
Where to Get It
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About Douglas Stone
Douglas Stone is a lawyer and mediator, as well as a lecturer at Harvard Law School and co-author of several best-selling books.
He has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, and other publications.
Stone has been a consultant to organizations such as Google, Goldman Sachs, and the U.S.
Department of Defense, and he is the founder of Triad Consulting Group.
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Other Communication Skills Books you may Like:
- Best Books on Communication Skills
- The Art of Communicating by Thich Nhat Hanh
- The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane
- The Fine Art of Small Talk by Debra Fine
- The Five Keys to Mindful Communication by Susan Gillis Chapman
Over to You
If you already read Thanks for the Feedback by Douglas Stone, please take a moment to rate it and maybe write your feedback in the comments. You’ll help other readers make the best choice.
Thanks a lot,
Simon

Welcome to DailyBitsOfWisdom.com, my passion project inspired by my own battle with depression. Here, I share resources on journaling, positive affirmations, self-help insights, and book summaries, creating a nurturing space where we can connect, learn, and grow together on our journey to self-discovery and personal growth.