Introduction
Welcome to “What we have learned so far”. Having worked for over 20 years across a variety of organizations, industries and departments, We have had many missteps, misunderstandings and failures to learn from.After we have beaten ourselves up, because we are human, and over-thinking ones at that…I look back at what I did wrong and see how I could have done it differently, do it better next time, or recognize/avoid the situation earlier. We are lifelong learners who like to read, listen to audiobooks and podcasts, and talk to others about their experiences. So this is where we will share our random ponderings, or what we found interesting along the way.
The unspoken power of feedback
As leaders or management, we provide feedback on a daily basis without always thinking about the impact of that feedback or what our purpose is for giving it. I personally have experienced and witnessed how unproductive or constant feedback can be demotivating or confidence shaking. Logically, I know that was not the individual’s intention when they provided the feedback, but that was the consequences of their actions. It left thoughts in my heads or my colleagues
- “Why am I even here”
- “What do they want me to do about it now”
- “Why do I even bother”
- “I am a failure”
Then these team members have become disengaged, their output decreased, their quality went down or a good person left the organization/team with hidden bruises that carry on to the next place. Not to mention, our team’s cohesiveness, engagement and output have decreased.
I am 100% sure, I have provided feedback to my team members that resulted in them feeling this way. I know that was never my intention and apologize to anyone I gave thoughtless feedback to. I can’t change the past, but I can do better going forward. So now, when a team member comes to me to review their work, or I sit in a meeting that I didn’t think went well, I think through what I want to tell them, and ensure that my feedback is actionable, pertinent and about what is important for us to meet our objectives.
