Embracing Feedback

Welcome to this week's edition of the Cultivated ?? Leadership Newsletter. If you're new here, welcome! Let's dive into a topic that resonates deeply in both professional and personal realms: feedback.

Weekly Reflection

Embracing Feedback for Growth and Success

Feedback is a cornerstone of growth. Yet, many leaders grapple with it, often unknowingly. Have you ever found yourself in a meeting where metrics and KPIs are manipulated to fit a desired narrative? You know the meeting—the one where declines in performance are masked by excuses like economic conditions or market competition.

This scenario is a classic indicator of a feedback problem. Leaders often craft these narratives because they lack crucial insights from their teams about the real issues at hand. In my consulting work, I emphasize that feedback is one of those things leaders don't know they need until it's glaringly missing. It's a mechanism that, when properly understood and utilized, can transform an organization.

Reflect on the culture of feedback within your team. Is feedback celebrated, tolerated, or dismissed? This question can unearth significant insights about the underlying dynamics of your team. I recall a powerful story about Alan Mulally, former CEO of Ford. In 2005, during a global executive meeting, an executive reported a significant delay in the Ford Escape's release. Contrary to expectations, Mulally didn't react negatively. Instead, he saw this moment of truth as a pivotal point for Ford's recovery. This story underscores the importance of creating a safe space where truth can surface without fear of retribution.

Feedback is vital, and the safety to lead with truth is paramount. Your team has likely tested you with small truths early on to gauge your reaction. If you dismissed these small truths, they learned you weren't receptive to feedback. This realization is encapsulated in a quote by Ben Killoy: "Early on your team will test you with the small things, so that later they can know if they can trust you with the big things."

Identifying Your Feedback Culture

When was the last time a team member brought you bad news or a hard truth? How did you respond? Your reaction to such moments can significantly influence your team's willingness to share critical feedback in the future.

Consider sharing a story at your next meeting about a hard truth you worked through. Use courage and vulnerability to reset trust within your team. Remember, the magic you're seeking often lies in the caves you're afraid to enter.

Practical Tips

Harnessing the Power of Feedback

1. Create Safe Spaces: Ensure your team feels safe to share honest feedback without fear of retribution.
2. Encourage Open Communication: Regularly solicit feedback through formal and informal channels.
3. Act on Feedback: Demonstrate that you value feedback by acting on it and communicating the changes made.
4. Lead by Example: Share your own challenges and how you overcame them. This vulnerability can inspire your team to do the same.

Self-Reflection Questions

1. How do I typically react to negative feedback?
2. What can I do to make my team feel safer sharing feedback with me?
3. Can I recall a time when dismissing feedback led to negative outcomes? What did I learn from that experience?

Featured Resources

• Book: "Radical Candor" by Kim Scott – A guide to giving and receiving feedback in a way that builds relationships and improves performance. Read now on Amazon
• Podcast: "The Feedback Loop" – Discussions on how leaders can use feedback to drive success. Listen now on Spofity
• Article: "The Art of Constructive Feedback" – Tips and strategies for providing feedback that empowers and motivates. Read now on LinkedIn

Quote of the Week

"Early on your team will test you with feedback on the small things, so that later they can know if they can trust you with the big things" - Ben Killoy

Feedback is the cornerstone of growth and improvement. By embracing it as a gift, we can unlock our full potential and create a culture of continuous learning and development.

Reflect on the feedback you've received recently. How can you use it to propel yourself and your team forward? Share your experiences with our community on LinkedIn and join the conversation.

Preview Next Week: Stay tuned for our next issue where I share my story about why I do the work that I do.

Connect and Engage

What’s your biggest leadership goals right now? Comment below and let me know. Your insights could help others growing in the same direction.

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