Resetting Your Culture After an Acquisition: A Strategic Imperative for Executive Leaders
In today's dynamic business landscape, acquisitions are a prevalent strategy for growth and market expansion. Companies seek to enhance their...
4 min read
Donna Hall
:
July 1, 2024
Many of us have read Kim Scott’s critically acclaimed book, “Radical Candor,” which highlights the importance of providing both positive and constructive feedback to employees. The book offers valuable insights into why we owe this feedback to our employees and outlines effective methods for delivering it.
I’m a big believer in giving consistent feedback. I truly believe we owe it to our employees. We owe them positive feedback—what they are doing well, what they are gifted in, what we want them doing more of. And we owe them constructive feedback.
Anyone who has worked with me for any period of time knows that I call direct feedback being “lovingly candid.” I believe it is important to say things in a way a person is able to hear. I want you to hear the truth but in ways you know I care about your growth and development, your future, and YOU.
Employee feedback isn’t just critical to the employee themselves. It’s vital for organizational success. Delivering lovingly candid feedback not only helps employees grow but also fosters a positive, open, and productive work environment built on trust and mutual respect.
Here are some thoughts on the importance of feedback and how you can achieve this delicate balance:
When feedback is delivered with genuine care, it builds trust between leaders and employees. Trust is the foundation of a strong workplace culture where employees feel valued and respected.
Constructive feedback helps employees understand their strengths and areas for improvement. This continuous loop of feedback and development is crucial for both individuals and organizational growth.
Employees who receive regular, honest feedback are more engaged and motivated. Not only do they appreciate knowing where they stand and what they can do to improve, they are motivated to do more to improve their performance.
It takes an investment of time, energy, and emotion to give consistent feedback to your employees. What are you really demonstrating when you give consistent positive and constructive feedback? You’re demonstrating they matter.
They matter to the organization and to you. When you spend time thinking about them —their strengths, and their opportunities for growth, you are demonstrating their importance to you.
When an entire organization is built on open communication and feedback, setting and managing expectations, and mutual respect, the end result is a culture of cooperation, collaboration, contribution and community.
It’s natural for some employees to become defensive when receiving feedback. To address this:
Emotions can run high during feedback sessions. To manage this effectively:
in delivering feedback is key to its effectiveness:
Many managers find giving feedback, especially constructive criticism, uncomfortable. To address this:
In diverse workplaces, cultural differences can impact how feedback is given and received:
Finding the right balance can be challenging:
By addressing these common challenges, you can create a more effective feedback culture in your organization, fostering growth, trust, and continuous improvement.
By following the steps outlined above and addressing common challenges, you can create a culture of open communication and continuous improvement.
Remember, the goal of feedback is not just to correct mistakes, but to nurture potential, build confidence, and align individual growth with organizational success. When delivered with empathy, specificity, and genuine care, feedback becomes a powerful tool for personal and professional development.
As leaders, we have the responsibility and privilege to shape our team’s future through our words and actions. By mastering the art of lovingly candid feedback, we not only enhance individual performance but also cultivate a workplace environment where trust, respect, and growth flourish.
To create a culture of continuous improvement and mutual respect through feedback:
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