Life-giving feedback is a must for all leaders desiring to go to the next level.
Effective leaders know that in order to lead with clarity and precision, accurate feedback is a must. So what is Feedback? It’s the art of collecting insight from others and factoring it into your personal leadership equation.
My good friend Dr. Joseph Umidi, the founder and president of Lifeforming Leadership Coaching calls feedback “the breakfast of champions!”
Feedback is a lost art in many circles. Why? Because we've not welcomed it as readily as we need to. We’ve mistakenly assumed that by virtue of our training, expertise or calling, that we are immune from error. Nothing could be further from the truth. Blind spots abound in all leaders; hence we all need timely input from trusted peers.
Need a few tips on giving and receiving feedback? Here are a few time proven principles:
1.To get feedback, you must always ask for it.
- If you don't welcome it, people will stop giving it.
2. Good feedback originates from those closest to you.
- Your most valuable feedback generally comes from your inner circle - those who know you best and
love you most. They are cognizant of your blind spots, but won’t discharge them until asked.
3. Accept all feedback, negative and positive, with grace.
- Not all feedback is accurate. People don't always hit the bullseye, but they rarely miss the whole target.
4.Always ask the person to specify if you do not understand their feedback.
- Specificity becomes the limus test to all feedback. If it can be specified, pay attention. if not, it could be merely criticism.
5. Feedback must be timely.
- Wait too long to give it or ask for it and it becomes stale and impotent. A word spoken in due season is like a beautiful picture in settings of gold and silver.
6. Written feedback can be valuable.
- Written feedback is invaluable; many will write it down clearer than they would say it. However, it is also easy to say more than is needed in written form. Use utmost care in giving written feedback.
Conclusion:
Feedback is a must for the forward progress of a leader. It affords us the rare opportunity of seeing ourselves as others do. To respond properly is to grow, to respond negatively is a missed opportunity for growth.
Are you open to positive feedback? Are you taking advantage of it for personal development? Don't forget, how you respond could very well deterrmine if any more is given. Think about it.
Coach John
