How to Receive Feedback Professionally in English at Work

Receiving feedback — especially critical feedback — can feel uncomfortable. But it’s also a chance to grow, learn, and build trust with your team or manager. When you know how to receive feedback professionally in English, you show maturity, confidence, and openness to improvement.

This guide will help you listen, respond, and follow up on feedback with the right phrases and mindset.

How to Give Feedback to a Colleague (With Tips and Examples)

Receive Feedback Professionally & Why it Matters

Handling feedback calmly and respectfully helps you:

• Grow your professional skills
• Strengthen relationships with coworkers or supervisors
• Show emotional intelligence
• Create a positive workplace culture

It’s a key part of communicating in English professionally and shows you can work well under pressure.

Politely Apologize When You Can’t Make it to the Meeting

Phrases to Respond to Feedback Professionally

To show you’re listening:

• “Thank you for the feedback — I appreciate it.”
• “I see what you mean.”
• “That’s helpful — thanks for pointing it out.”

To ask for clarification:

• “Could you give me an example so I can better understand?”
• “Can you help me see how I could do this differently next time?”

To show commitment to improve:

• “I’ll work on that going forward.”
• “Thanks for bringing that up — I’ll make sure to fix it.”
• “I’ve taken a note and will follow up after making the changes.”

Example: Receiving Feedback in a One-on-One Meeting

Manager: “Your updates have been good, but try to keep them shorter — especially in team meetings.”
You: “Thanks, I’ll focus on keeping them more concise. Let me know if this week’s update felt better.”

This shows you’re open, respectful, and ready to take action.

Example: Responding to Feedback by Email

Subject: Re: Slide Deck Review

Hi [Name],

Thanks for your feedback on the deck. I’ve updated the font for readability and rephrased slide 4 for clarity. Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like me to adjust. I appreciate your time and suggestions.

Best,[Your Name]

Receive Feedback Professionally & Stay Calm

• Pause before reacting — give yourself time to think
• Don’t take it personally — focus on the message, not the tone
• Say thank you, even if the feedback is difficult to hear
• Ask for support if needed (training, examples, time)

Responding professionally shows that you care about growth, not ego.

Tips for Clear and Professional English Communication

Final Tips to Receive Feedback in English Professionally

• Keep your body language open — nod, make eye contact
• Take notes if needed
• Follow up with action or a short message
• Stay polite, even if you disagree — you can always ask to discuss more later

16 Ways To Deliver Effective Feedback in the Workplace

Final Thought on How to Receive Feedback Professionally

When you receive feedback professionally in English, you don’t just improve your performance — you strengthen your reputation as a thoughtful, proactive communicator.

Want to practice how to respond to real workplace feedback? Join Learn Laugh Speak and build confidence in every conversation.