[Flash] Observe Yourself like a Bug (Feedback Advice from Good to Great Author)

He learned from his Stanford Business School creativity professor: “Study yourself like a scientist. Walk around and observe yourself.”

With that advice, Jim bought a chemistry lab notebook and used it to examine himself dispassionately, like he would study a bug. He nicknamed it his “Bug Book.”

While working at a company where he felt he was not flourishing, Jim started making notes about the “bug called Jim.” He became a scientist of the self.

He reflected, “If you’re a scientist observing a bug, you don’t judge the bug. You just make detached clinical observations about the bug.” 

This practice taught Jim to process critical feedback like he would process clinical information – without emotion. Doing so prevents his emotional reactions, such as defensiveness, from obstructing his commitment to improving himself.

According to feedback research, people struggle to learn from criticism because the emotional threat distracts their attention away from learning and toward self-protection.

In other words, when we focus on feeling disappointed, frustrated, or embarrassed, we completely miss the informational value of feedback.

Recent research suggests that negative feedback activates one of two reactions:

1. What does this say about me?
2. What can I improve?

Not surprisingly, our learning and creativity decline with the first reaction and advance with the second.

On a recent episode of MentorLead’s Success@Mentoring podcast, my guest, Raeln Anderson, shared her unemotional, what-can-I-improve approach to feedback.

During our conversation, I asked Raeln how she handles receiving feedback. She announced, “I go to the literature.”

• She considers who is giving the feedback and what their agenda might be.
• She then does research to discover what the literature says.
• If the literature confirms the feedback, she takes action to improve herself.
• If it doesn’t, she shares her findings with the feedback giver.

In other words, Raeln is following Jim Collins’ approach and putting distance between her feelings and the feedback. By focusing on the informational value of the feedback, she brilliantly avoids being derailed by its emotional side. 

Like Jim, Raeln doesn’t focus on how the feedback makes her feel. She focuses on what it could teach her, which allows her to strive and thrive personally and professionally.

To wedge space between your feelings and your feedback, fixate on the facts. Your future self will thank you.

© 2026. Ann Tardy and MentorLead. www.mentorlead.com. All Rights Reserved.