3 feedback myths that are holding you back—and how Dropbox can help

  Sometimes when you ask for feedback on your work, it feels like you’re fishing for mistakes. And if you’re strapped for time, the thought of just pushing your work out the door—without involving other people—can be alluring. But too often, feedback gets a bad rap. It’s an important part of making your work as good as it can be. And luckily, it’s a lot easier to manage than you might think. Here are three myths holding you back from getting feedback, and getting more done.

Myth #1: “I don’t need to get feedback”

It’s tempting to fly solo at work, especially if you’re an expert in your field. But research shows that people who ask co-workers for feedback are happier in their careers. It’s more than that, though—good, constructive feedback helps improve your work. When you draw from your colleagues’ skills by asking for their input, there’s a good chance you’ll end up creating higher-quality work. But what if you already knew all that, and the problem is that you just don’t want to take the first step of asking for feedback? We understand—it can be a bit of a pain. But with Dropbox, it’s easy to get started by sharing your files right from the desktop. And once you get started, there are plenty of other Dropbox features to help you keep the ball rolling—shattering these other feedback myths along the way.

Myth #2: “Feedback’s too hard to manage”

Keeping track of all the feedback you get through different apps, tools, and emails can be a headache. Dropbox, though, helps you get truly confusion-free feedback. One way is by letting your reviewers comment on a specific area of a file. Whether a logo looks off or there’s a typo in the third sentence of the second paragraph, you can see exactly what they’re talking about. We’ve also added previews to more types of files, so it’s easier for you to get feedback on everything you work on. Reviewers can now preview and comment on audio files, CSVs, and more just like they can with PDFs and design files.

Myth #3: “Getting feedback will slow me down”

Feedback doesn’t have to throw a wrench into your progress. If you’re working in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, it’s easy to ditch those lengthy email back-and-forths. Just use our co-authoring feature for Microsoft Office Online, and save yourself the pain of mixed-up file versions. With our integration, you can collaborate on a doc stored in a Dropbox shared folder, in real time—right from your browser. You can also get the feedback loop started sooner by sharing your ideas sooner. When inspiration strikes—whether it’s a sketch on a napkin, or a photo of a typeface you fell in love with—use the new plus button to scan it into Dropbox. Then you don’t have to wait until you get back to the office to share your idea and start getting everyone’s input. Sending a project around for review might be a little scary, but let’s face it—feedback makes your work better. Not just that, it can be a learning experience, helping you grow as a professional and improve working relationships. Whether you’re looking to get approvals or sharpen your skills, Dropbox can help you collect feedback easily. Check out the new features that do that and more, here: