Results of our poll: Giving Difficult feedback...
London Speech Workshop | B-Corp
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Last week, we shared a poll to find out which area people would most like to see growth- these were the results:
Since the number one area you'd like to see growth in was giving difficult feedback, we thought we'd share some tips for this:
Giving difficult feedback
Be clear, be kind
What you don’t want is to let someone leave a feedback session thinking ‘what just happened?’ You may have to say difficult things but don’t let your discomfort with this cause you to go round the houses with your wording. State the feedback clearly, directly and with specifics, giving the recipient the best possible chance to improve their performance.
What also really helps is some very practical preparation:
Remember, being direct can be hard but in this instance it really is the kindest thing to do.
And if you are voted on one of the other options, here are our tips for these areas as well...
Giving confident presentations
Overcome nerves right before you start
It's normal to feel nervous before a work presentation, so don't fight your feelings.?It’s important that you overcome your nerves, not by getting rid of them, but by not letting them control your performance.?
Before you enter the meeting room, take a moment to concentrate on your ‘why’ and initiate a power pose – lift your chest, hold your head high and throw your arms out to the side – this works to release cortisol from the brain and can literally change the way you feel about yourself in a moment.??
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Combine this with some deep breathing to calm your body and prevent the panic setting in. It’s natural - evolutionary, even - that when the fear kicks in your body goes into fight or flight mode. Your breathing becomes shallower, reaching only the top of your lungs, and the brain takes this as a signal to release adrenaline and enter panic mode.
The good news is you can work to reverse this by taking deep breaths. Breathe in for a count of five, hold for five and breathe out for 5. This will send good, calming signals to your brain. Don’t forget though - a little bit of adrenaline is good, it will make you feel alive and give you the energy to make an impact.
Avoiding passive language
Don't beat about the bush
When you are giving an instruction, don’t beat about the bush or be apologetic about it. Instead, prepare what your instruction is beforehand, and say it with simple steps. It may seem obvious, but take a moment to make sure you are clear before you begin, so that you can be as clear as possible when you start speaking.
Don’t be afraid to stop if you feel you aren’t making sense, clear your thoughts and start again. Rather than rattling off your instructions and then looking up to make sure the team are still with you, talk in units or smaller thoughts, and make sure each idea is delivered by making regular eye contact with your listeners. This will naturally slow you down and ensure the team is alert and following.
Connecting with your team
A smile can go a really long way...
In Back to Human: How Great Leaders Create Connection in an Age of Isolation,?Dan Schwabel argues:
“A strong connection to your teammates makes work more meaningful and enjoyable. The lack of it makes work feel like a chore and creates the silos that eliminate creativity and innovation.”
He adds, “Workplace happiness depends largely on a sense of belonging, so find small ways to increase the amount of two-way, real-time interaction in your working week. ”?
Shwabel suggests actions that we can take immediately, from grabbing a coffee with a co-worker to scheduling a regular one-on-one with your manager or, if your boss has an open-door policy, making use of it.
Even something as simple as walking over to ask a colleague a question rather than sending an email can create a micro moment of connection - plus you eliminate the risk of them misreading your written tone of voice.
Body language and facial expressions are a big part of how we connect with other people so if you can’t physically be in the same space as someone, choose video conferencing over other forms of communication. A smile can go a really long way in building relationships.
Do you want your team to authentically connect with your clients and stakeholders and make real impact using effective presentation skills? We can help!?Why not book a free consultation call with our team ?