Feedback is not positive or negative. It is information.
Feedback is merely information. Without it, you are in the dark. Few people are good at receiving it. Few people are good at giving it. Both are skills that can be developed.
How well do you receive feedback?
Senior people can be intimidating either due to position or personal style. I often ask my clients, "How easy is it to give you feedback?" For many senior people the answer is "not easy". See what Seth Grodin says about coachability.http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/06/coachable.html
What If You Don't Like the Feedback? I've got news for you. Nobody likes feedback! (Especially the negative stuff).
Think of feedback is a gift. Like any gift you first say thank-you and then you decide what you will do with that gift.
Examine the feedback. Ask 2 questions.
- Do you care? (maybe this feedback isn't important for your personal objectives). Just because someone doesn't like something you are doing doesn't automatically mean that that thing is important.
- Do you agree? Maybe you care but you don't think the feedback is accurate. Test it. Ask for validation from a few others you trust. Make sure you are not being defensive. Finally, if you want to, act upon the feedback.
Now, I want to focus on the other side -- how do you give good feedback?
I seem to be talking to a lot of my clients about giving good information (in the form of feedback) lately. Good information in my mind is offered in a non-judgmental, factual, clear and caring way .
If you do it well, you will offer it openly and without the need to convince. You are not selling your position, you are offering information. You might be wrong and you should be open to that before you offer your feedback. If you do it well, people will often thank-you.
Here are 11 practical tips on giving good information in the form of feedback: http://www.slackermanager.com/2007/11/there-is-no-such-thing-as-positive-or-negative-feedback.html
Sandra Oliver - November 21, 2007
Filed under:
coaching,
leadership,
influencing,
feedback,
mentoring
Sandra Oliver
Sandra Oliver Sandra Oliver is a leadership coach and consultant with more than 17 years experience in Corporate HR leadership roles. Her expertise includes change management and succession planning. Sandra is the founder of IMPACT Consulting Inc.
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