YATM | Why Feedback Can Help, Not Hurt You

Hi YATMers, I’m Laura Trapnell. I’m a solicitor – but I promise a lovely one!

I specialise in intellectual property law in the digital and creative sector – so branding, copyright in content and images, websites etc; anything which is fun and innovative! I help people identify what they have, sort out how to protect it and then how to enforce it if the need arises.

I love books and am currently reading “All The Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr – all about the occupation of St Malo during the war. I have recently been to Pegasus Bridge tracing the steps of my grandfather who was a glider pilot – it was an absolutely amazing experience, I saw photos and his name is various lists and cried for the entire day!

The photo is me in an ice bath doing a Wim Hoff workshop, I wasn’t convinced! I swim most days and hoped that it might stop me swearing when I get in, but it didn’t!

Perhaps I'll see you at Lunch Club today? 😊

Why don't we connect?

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Asking for feedback helps you see the world from a broader perspective.

To get output you need input.

It means putting yourself out there as not being perfect.

There are times when a supporting hand can mean the world. We can’t do all this bottled up in our heads.

Taking into account the thoughts of others and asking for feedback means you’re constantly fine-tuning to stay two steps ahead of others.

Today's newsletter is about continual evaluation and asking for feedback. If you are here to solve other people’s problems, it is also ok to have your own questions and bat it back.

In the book Hit Makers: How to Succeed in an Age of Distraction, Derek Thompson says...

“Audiences don’t know everything, but they know more than creators do.”

When It’s One Way. When It’s Two Ways

Getting feedback has become something I know is important today.

I didn’t used to be like that, I would deliver, move on and never ask. I took an out of sight, out of mind approach. I know that is wrong.

Over the years I have found two forms of feedback that I now stick to:

1. When It'sOne Way

This is where people are invited, in their own time, to give input. This is more quantitative led such as forms and questionnaires.

After Creator Day, I ask for feedback. You're coming in 2025, aren't you?

I’m not a huge fan of forms for input, but it has to be done. It's necessary to improve and make progress, as long as the questions are relevant. The reason it has made me feel slightly nervy has been centred around my own insecurities of ‘what if people didn’t like it?’

By not asking for input, you’re taking an approach where you don’t care what people think. It’s a way to protect yourself, but stifles potential improvement.

For instance, from feedback from this year, for 2025 YATM Creator Day:

✅ People will have more opportunity to chat to each other

✅ People like the idea of working together, they just need more guidance

✅ People come together in groups and they’ll be assigned their teams at the start of the day

✅ WhatsApp felt too overwhelming for chat, a separate space for dedicated conversation

I wouldn’t have been able to plan this if I didn’t have input. It brings the audience into the middle.

2. When It's Two Ways

This is more conversational where a person invites thoughts. This is more qualitative.

In YATM Club, we hold our Sense Check session every month, led by Ben McKinney. This is an opportunity for people to seek input, feedback, and simply ask "Does this make sense?" from others.

Being in the moment and having the courage to step up and take centre stage for 10 minutes is important.

Sometimes the feedback someone receives may not be what they were hoping for, and it can feel like a punch. However, that's the essence of feedback.

If all we received was positive comments, we would be living in a vacuum and would only be disappointed when others don't agree with us.

What happens is that asking for feedback helps to see different perspectives. Even if it means taking away and refining or understanding the real reason you want to pursue, it gives clarity. At a recent Sense Check I wanted to share more about intentions to launch YATM Lunch Club in London.

Even if feedback might feel tough, it isn't against you — it's for you.

What About Your Side?

Whatever you are working on, there comes a time when you need to ask and garner support or your own Sense Check. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you take that step.

Ask the Right People

If you want helpful feedback, it's best to avoid asking everyone. Polling strangers on social media can dilute the responses and skew the results.

When I sought input from people of the YATM community, I asked in real-time—directly from the people in the room who were engaged and present. Their opinions are informed, relevant, and valuable because they were connected to the conversation. When you start, ask a few people you trust and value.

Also, continuous positive feedback doesn't help creators, it can harm them.

Make Your Ask Valuable to Your Community

I know that people want to contribute where they feel valued. For example, YATM Club is not only a place to belong, but also a platform for upskilling, learning, and building confidence. What you offer must resonate with other people.

It’s about being attuned to the collective "we," not just the individual “I."

Lean Away from Social Media

Seeking help on social media is playing the numbers game, where the focus is on getting input from a large audience rather than from people who know and understand you.

It's important to ask yourself: Would you trust someone who hardly knows you to influence an important decision related to your goals?"

Base Decisions on Real Data

When seeking feedback, it is essential to seek input from the right people as the data will speak for itself. It's crucial to be genuine and only ask for feedback if you are prepared to listen and take action on it.

Here are three points to help you determine whether the feedback is suitable for you:

🤔 Is it Aligned? Does this input fit with your overall goals and support the direction you're heading?

🤔 Is it Actionable? Can you realistically implement this suggestion and make meaningful changes?

🤔 Is it Credible? Is this insight coming from someone you trust and whose perspective you value?

What You’re Gaining in the Long Run

When you seek assistance, it's about much more than just getting an answer to a question. It helps shape your future in the following ways:

🔆 You Learn Who Your Audience Truly Is

Moments of unity can define the path forward. A collective voice helps you understand what your audience wants and how you can best serve them.

🔆 You Discover How to Communicate More Effectively

Bringing people closer strengthens connections on both sides. Regular, thoughtful feedback ensures your audience remains engaged. In the future, more streamlined surveys may shape how we move forward together.

🔆 You Learn to Serve with Purpose

Seeking help signals that you're in it for the long haul. Maintaining high quality in terms of your delivery and experience ensures that people know you're putting your best foot forward to create something that resonates with what they want.

🔆 You Make a Lasting Impact

You make a lasting impact. It's a place where you keep coming back to ask for input, to reflect and to improve the whole endeavour you're focused on. This means you're putting in the groundwork, not just for today, but also for tomorrow.

Let’s Round-Up

When you’re refining your approach, feedback is powerful.

Surrounding yourself with the right people makes asking easier—and it’s necessary. As Brene Brown says, “Feedback should be as vulnerable for the person giving it as it is for the person receiving it … Vulnerability is at the heart of the feedback process.”

When refining your approach, feedback is always powerful. Surround yourself with the right people, ask the right questions, and take action based on the feedback. As a bonus, it also helps you save time and put your mind a little more at ease.

You can act on it, ask and create the most meaningful work you've ever done.

Time Wasting

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