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We've all been told that you need to have thick skin in this industry. It's true, but what are some strategies that you can use in the meantime? Anne talks about what you can do to make sure everyone walks away happy.
Negative feedback can be tough.
So today I want to talk to you about how to handle negative feedback on your performance.
So this can be a tough one. Responding to negative feedback from your performance is sometimes very, very difficult to deal with because it's almost like it's a personal attack.
You really have to remember that this is a business. And you actually have a product. So if you are getting negative feedback on your performance, then number one, without the feelings in the way, it simply means that your client is not necessarily happy with the product that you've delivered. And I think there's a multitude of ways that you can handle this so that you can give the client exactly what they want because when it comes down to it, that is your job.
To be able to deliver the client, the product that they want.
If it happens that you're being criticized, let's say through an email and you happen to have a back and forth through email. Sometimes I'll pick up the phone and talk to the client and say, look, I am happy to do another session, a live directed session so I can give your client exactly what it is that they are looking for. And I find that a lot of times this really helps the situation. Either their specs or their direction on what they wanted either changed or if they didn't really, they weren't able to translate what it is that they really wanted. And sometimes just a phone call and a live direct session are just what they need or just what you need as well to give them exactly what they want and then everybody's happy.
Now, if you get negative feedback during a live directed session, So that's a tough one. It's really tough because it seems to attack us personally, really personally. And we're standing there, you know, in the moment trying to remain professional, but yet not like let it affect our performance. The big thing is to take a deep breath. And it really depends if you're live. If your other clients are seeing you maybe on a Skype session or some sort of video communication, I don't think it's a bad idea to, you know, ask your clients to give you a second so that you can mentally prepare for the direction that they're giving.
And during that moment, hopefully, you're not on video or even if you are on video, you can certainly just blank out the video for a minute and make sure that you're blanking out your sound. Take a deep breath. Okay, shake it off, shake it off in your booth. Do whatever you have to do to come back to do another performance to what the client is asking.
And sometimes I know the client may not be able to verbalize what it is that he's looking for. And so all we can do is our best and really just take those deep breaths in between. Our takes and trying to get the client to clarify exactly what it is that they're looking for. Sometimes there just is a disconnect between what the client thinks he heard on your audition, or maybe it's somebody else who decided to go in a different direction.
That's entirely normal. It's entirely okay, and it does happen. I think that those types of sessions. If you can really remain professional and focused on what the client wants and be able to deliver that. I think that's going to distract you from getting that very hurt, attacked feeling that will affect your performance in more of a negative way.
Give yourself the opportunity to take a step back and understand that maybe the client doesn't really know how to ask for what he's looking for. He or she, what they're looking for. Step back and understand. Try not to take it personally again, because maybe they're not communicating the direction that they're really looking for.
And so you may be following directions absolutely perfectly. However, they just don't know how to specifically say it. Remember, breathe, communicate, pick up that phone and communicate if it's a, it's negative feedback via email, pick up the phone, communicate, ask if those clients may want to direct you live.
And if it is a live directed, It's okay to take a break. It's okay. Take a moment, take a breath, breathe deep, understand that it may not be on your end at all. Try not to take it personally. You are delivering a product and it's simply a matter of communication that between the two of you, can go back and forth to give the client what it is that they want.
Thanks so much for watching today. See you next week.
Thanks for reading!
Keep on rocking your business like a #VOBOSS
About Anne:
Anne Ganguzza is a professional voice actor and award-winning director and producer who works with students to develop their voiceover and business skills - including voice over Coaching and Genre-based Demo Production. She specializes in conversational Commercial & Narration styles, including Corporate, eLearning, Technology, and On-Hold Messaging. Located in Orange County, California, Anne offers private coaching and mentoring services to students via ipDTL and Zoom.