The power of feedback

Secure enough feedback

Getting feedback from peers is crucial in developing your proposal writing skills. If possible, let several colleagues comment on the text. A new set of eyes is crucial to evaluate the readability and clarity or the text. Further, if the colleagues are not experts in your specific field, all the better. They then resemble the reviewers’ background. If these colleagues are confused about something, the same will probably be true for the reviewers. It is therefore important to take all feedback into account, even issues that you may think are irrelevant or issues that you have a clear explanation for in your head. You will not be there to explain yourself to the reviewer; the text needs to be understandable on its own.

Make sure to give the reviewing colleagues enough time to truly read and process the proposal, and also to give yourself enough time after receiving the feedback to revise the text. We recommend that the colleagues receive the proposal at least two weeks before deadline.

Give constructive feedback

When you are asked to give feedback, take is seriously. Devote a fair amount of time to read the text, and try to put on your “reviewer-glasses”. Be sincere and constructive. If someone asks for your feedback, they do not only want confirmation that everything is good. They really want to know what they can improve.