“It’s Not Personal”: Rethinking Feedback and Collaboration at Work

Auto Care ON AIR

What makes collaboration truly effective? In this eye-opening conversation, the Auto Care Association team explores how physical spaces, team dynamics, and individual mindsets create environments where innovative ideas flourish.
Step inside the Association's brand-new office space, purposefully designed with open concepts and glass walls to foster spontaneous interaction. As Stacey Miller, VP of Communications, shares, "We were all separate before. There was this big heavy wooden door and this big heavy wooden furniture, and you never knew if anybody was in the office." The team reveals how this architectural transformation has already sparked increased communication and cross-departmental idea-sharing after just two weeks.
The conversation delves into the art of feedback, both giving and receiving it effectively. Graphic designer Erin Wood offers a refreshing perspective: "Trying to center the work helps you de-center yourself and not take feedback personally. They're not a reflection that I'm bad at my job... it's just a point of view I haven't considered." This psychological safety creates space where even "bad ideas" can contribute valuable elements to final solutions.
Beyond physical space and feedback mechanisms, the team examines how diversity of thought strengthens collaboration. From varied experience levels to different departmental perspectives, they demonstrate how intentionally building teams with complementary viewpoints creates more comprehensive solutions. As Content Director Jacki Lutz notes, "The whole point of having a diverse team is having different perceptions... it gives you that 360-degree view."
Whether you're building a collaborative team or striving to become a better collaborator yourself, this conversation offers practical strategies: shadow colleagues to understand their workflows, be proactive in both teaching and learning, and remember that you were chosen for your unique perspective, so don't hesitate to share it. Discover how the auto care industry itself serves as a model for effective collaboration across sectors toward common goals.
What makes someone your favorite collaborator? Listen now and reflect on how you might embody those qualities in your own professional relationships.

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To learn more about the Auto Care Association visit autocare.org.
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Chapters

1. Welcome to Carpool Conversations (00:00:00)

2. The New Office Environment (00:02:17)

3. Creating a Culture of Safe Collaboration (00:06:10)

4. The Art of Receiving Feedback (00:13:41)

5. Diversity of Thought in Teams (00:21:24)

6. Practical Tips for Better Collaboration (00:31:17)

7. Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways (00:39:58)