Thursday, July 25, 2024

How People Respond to Feedback using APPLES mnemonic

Receiving feedback, especially when it's negative, can trigger a variety of responses based on our perspectives and attitudes. Using the APPLES mnemonic, we can summarize how individuals might interpret and respond to such feedback. 


APPLES stands for: 

  1. Actions
  2. Political
  3. Puzzled
  4. Logic
  5. Emotional
  6. Superstitious.

Actions

You’ll start working on improving your listening.

Example 

After receiving the feedback "You don't listen," you decide to attend a workshop on active listening skills and practice summarizing what others say during conversations to ensure you've understood them correctly.

Political

You say to yourself, “He doesn’t like me, and that is why he is giving this feedback.”

Example 

When you hear "You don't listen," you think, "This person has never liked me, and this feedback is just another way of trying to undermine me."

Puzzled

You say to yourself, “I always thought I’m a great listener, I wonder why I got this feedback.”

Example

Upon hearing "You don't listen," you feel confused and reflect, "I always make an effort to listen attentively. I need to understand why they feel this way."

Logic

You analyze the feedback objectively and try to find evidence or specific instances that could support or refute it.

Example

You hear "You don't listen," and you respond by thinking, "Let me recall our recent conversations and see if there were times when I might have missed important points."

Emotional

React based on your feelings, which may include hurt, anger, or defensiveness.

Example

When someone tells you "You don't listen," you feel hurt and respond, "That’s not fair! I always try to pay attention to what you say."

Superstitious

You attribute the feedback to some unrelated belief or superstition.

Example

After being told "You don't listen," you think, "It must be because I didn’t wear my lucky charm today. I’ll make sure to wear it next time to avoid negative feedback."

Understanding the different ways people can interpret and respond to feedback can help us navigate our own reactions and improve our interactions with others. Whether we choose to take constructive actions, analyze the feedback logically, or even feel puzzled by it, each response provides an opportunity for growth and better communication. Recognizing these varied perspectives can also foster empathy and more effective dialogue in our personal and professional relationships.



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