HOW to give AWESOME Feedback to the People You Lead

I attended the Mile High SHRM 2017 Conference with members of the CSU SHRM chapter this weekend. I gained valuable advice on how to prepare myself for the real world I'm entering in just a few months. One of the most thought provoking coaches of the day was Shari Harley; the woman who created Candid Culture. I'm here to share what I learned from her because I found it to be relevant to so many people I know.

Everyone reading this post will lead and manage other people at some point; whether it be a leadership position at school ( ME!), an hourly paid job, city boards, or employees at work. As leaders, we have a responsibility to be candid with the people we lead and let them know when they are off track. Unfortunately, (it’s human nature… I know!) we shy away from giving feedback.

Most of the time we shy from feedback because:

1. We are afraid that our followers won’t listen to us or won’t like us after we tell them what they need to change; or
2. We aren’t sure how to relay the information to them in a way that impacts them to make the change.

Shari explained during her talk that this problem is due to a lack of relationship with the people we work with. She says this problem can be solved when we bring trust into those relationships. Shari told us in her presentation that

“You can say ANYTHING to ANYONE when trust is present”. 

If you take time to build trust with the people you lead, it will be easier for you to communicate feedback to them. They will be more willing to listen and make the changes you ask of them because they know the purpose of your feedback isn’t to attack them; but rather to help them grow. 

So, how do you gain this trust?

Shari goes into detail in her book “How to say Anything to Anyone” but the first step is easy. Get to know them. Figure out what their goals and aspirations are. Learn what they like and don’t like about their work environment. When you have a problem with them, don’t gossip; approach them directly! Ask if they would invite their friends to be part of the organization and then ask they why or why not. When they give you feedback, make an effort to make changes or figure out how to explain the good reason why you can't. Simple questions like these build trust and help the people you lead understand that you want what is best for the people in the organization.

When it all comes down to it, “People treat you the way you train them to treat you.” You now have the opportunity to change the way feedback is seen at your organization with a few simple trust building questions. If you're interested in learning how to actually communicate the feedback, Shari has an awesome printout HERE.

I recommend Shari's book How to Say Anything to Anyone". If you look into her advice, it will help you develop an incredible organization that is built on trust and growth. Shari is on youtube and has a ton of printouts and resources on her website here if you are interested in learning more about her influential business techniques.