If the Idea or Act of Giving Constructive Feedback Stresses You, You’re Not Alone
In a recent survey of over 500 managers, anticipating and then giving constructive feedback was found to be the number one stressor in their jobs. Ouch!
65% of them indicated they either delay or avoid giving feedback when they perceive the receiver will react negatively. An astonishing 47% indicated they believe that not providing enough constructive or positive feedback is negatively affecting their group’s performance.
Fear is the Feedback Killer
I’ve worked with thousands of professionals on overcoming their challenges with feedback of all types. The core fear is the potential for a negative or emotional reaction or even that the feedback will damage the relationship.
I get it. I was there, too, many years ago. To compensate for my fear, I developed all sorts of bad feedback habits. I sandwiched them between praise—a horrible habit—or mutilated them by apologizing, overtalking, or making them saccharine sweet. And yes, I regularly postponed them. Ugh!
My Feedback Struggles Were Impacting My Success
I’m grateful to this day to a fabulous mentor who challenged me to study and practice my feedback skills. She pushed me hard, and with exploration, some training, and a lot of practice (plus feedback on my feedback skills), I turned the work of challenging conversations of all types into a superpower. That was liberating in my development as a leader.
I want to be your mentor for succeeding with challenging feedback discussions.
Three Options to Help—Two are Free, and One is An Amazing Value
Here’s how I can help.
1. Drop me a note for my free e-book, Getting Feedback Right at [email protected]
2. Visit this link here for my blog and explore my many articles on the topic.
3. Join the May 1 Feedback Skills Boot Camp from noon-3 Central
For the Boot Camp, I run this in open enrollment format just 2x per year. (I am happy to schedule a dedicated program for your group.)
We’re up on May 1 for the single best feedback skills-building program you will ever encounter. It’s an amazing value at just $147 per seat, and if you don’t agree it was incredibly helpful, I’ll give you your money back. (Have a small group. Drop me a note for group pricing/e-invoicing.)
Here’s what we’ll cover in the boot camp:
-A primer on the psychology of feedback discussions and how to get fear out (yours and theirs)
-A research-backed model: B.I.T.-Qff you can use it to design and engage in feedback discussions that promote learning, growth, and performance.
-Ample practice time in small groups to learn and apply the model.
-Practice tools and a worksheet you take back into the workplace to keep strengthening.
-Ideas on how to normalize feedback in your working environment.
-After the program, you have unlimited e-mail access to me for help with your stickiest feedback situations. This access doesn’t expire.
I hope you’ll join me and all the group members in taking this vital step to eliminating fear and stress from challenging feedback discussions! Your team members will thank you, your boss will appreciate it and most of all, you will strengthen a key leadership skill that lasts an entire career!
Yours in Great Growth,
Art
p.s. Can’t make the date? Email me at [email protected] and let me know you’d like to be on the waiting list for our fall session.