Most team leaders I talk to tell me that feedback is challenging for a number of reasons. One of the biggest challenges is that it can be difficult to find the right words to deliver the message in a constructive way. Many people struggle to give negative feedback in a way that doesn’t hurt feelings or cause defensiveness. Additionally, the fear of being perceived as critical, or that giving feedback will damage the relationship can also make it challenging to give feedback.
Another challenge is that providing feedback requires a level of self-awareness. Team leaders have to understand their own biases, emotions and motivations in order to give feedback that is fair, accurate and useful. It also requires the ability to see things from the other person’s perspective, which can be difficult, especially when emotions are running high.
Unfortunately, a small minority of team members are not open to feedback that helps them to improve. They are more interested in hearing only positive feedback, which makes it hard to give them constructive feedback that will help them grow.
Providing feedback can be a challenging task, but it is a vital part of any team leaders role. It helps team members to understand their strengths and weaknesses, and provides them with the tools they need to improve and grow in their roles.
Providing feedback is essential but it can be challenging. It requires a level of self-awareness, the ability to find the right words, and the ability to overcome the fear of damaging relationships. But, with practice and patience, we can all develop the skills and confidence to give feedback effectively.
Roger Simpson – CEO, The Retail Solution and Author of “The Ultimate Retail Sales Experience” With over 35 years’ industry experience, Roger Simpson is recognized as Australia’s #1 Authority on customer ROI in the retail industry and as a global expert on staff coaching, customer service, and selling skills.
