Brenè Brown has got me thinking, again…
You’ll agree that truly impressive leaders think and behave differently to run-of-the-mill leaders. This is especially so when they give developmental feedback.
After all, developmental feedback, when delivered effectively, has a positive impact on a team member’s performance—which has a positive impact on the team’s results—which frequently has a positive impact on your leadership career.
This then begs the question for any leader who’s still on the path to becoming a truly impressive leader…
How Can You Give Totally Effective Developmental Feedback—Without Sidestepping Anything?
The characteristics truly impressive leaders demonstrate when giving feedback are spelled out in Brenè Brown’s “dare to lead” book (Penguin Random House, 2018).
I’ve captured what I think are the highlights below:
As your leader, as soon as possible after I realise there’s a problem, I’ll:
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- Sit next to you (figuratively) and candidly describe the problem—rather than making it your problem.
- Take a position of curiousity about the situation—so I understand what happened and your perspective.
- Be appreciative of what you do well and the value you bring.
- Do zero blaming or finger pointing—and be open about the part I could have played.
- Ensure we agree on what you’re accountable for and what lessons can be drawn from the situation so it doesn’t reoccur.
- Sit next to you (figuratively) and candidly describe the problem—rather than making it your problem.
Your Call to Action
As you reflect on your recent occurrences of giving team members developmental feedback (well, feedback to anyone actually), how would you honestly score yourself on the above five items?
The bottom line is this: Whenever you’re not scoring yourself 10 out of 10 for each of these items, you’re having a detrimental impact on your team member’s performance, on the team’s results and on your leadership career.
I know, it sounds harsh. And it’s the truth about what’s going on.
“Carolyn taught me the skills necessary to transform from a struggling manager
into a strong executive leader. I learnt not only how to bring out the best in myself,
but also how to bring out the best in other individuals in my organisation.
The skills I have learnt will now be with me forever, ensuring that I
will be a leading contributor in any organisation in the future.”
—Senior Manager, ASX Top 100 Company
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Carolyn’s best-seller book is now available:
—10 Vital Strategies for Ambitious But Frustrated Female Leaders”
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About the Author:
For more than 25-years, Carolyn Stevens has helped leaders flourish and become more confident, more courageous and impressively influential.
She specialises in helping ambitious but frustrated female leaders remove their stumbling blocks and accelerate their careers.
Carolyn is authentic and results-oriented. She’ll draw on an eclectic array of approaches, tools and techniques to suit your situation.
She’s never too busy to talk to you if you’re in a hurry to boost your success. Same goes for leaders you refer.
Email if you’d like to arrange a time to chat: carolyn@leadingperformance.com.au
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