Giving & Receiving the Feedback Gift

People like to share opinions.  Some opinions are delivered as criticism. People like to get feedback.  Most people dislike criticism.  Feedback delivered well, and received well, can be a gift...if we let it be!  In order to share opinions, ideas, admiration, and even constructive feedback, so the ideas may even be received as a gift for growth, consider phrasing your ideas in the following ways:

POSITIVE OBSERVATION

• NAME, what you do well is _________
• NAME, you are really good at is ___________
• NAME, you have a great ability to ____________
• NAME, your __________ was really impressive

POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENT

• NAME, you may want to consider ______________
• NAME, you might want to incorporate
• NAME, you may want to consider ______________ in order to improve ____________
• NAME, you might want to incorporate _____________ so you can _____________

By offering your opinions these ways, instead of the typical "I think..." or "I think you should", or "You need to..." comments, you make it about the other person (no "I"), and will likely have your ideas heard, and then considered as input and worthwhile feedback that may even be heard as a "gift"!

Taming the Big Harry APE!

"You are responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose." 

- Antoine de Saint-Exupery 

French writer, poet, and pioneering aviator. 

(1900 - 1944) 

If you are like most of us, there are times when it seems things are not going the way you would like, expected, anticipated, or could be going! And, at some times, that may be due to a person or people and how they are impacting you and your surroundings at the time. Consider, instead of "feeding the beast", focus on taming the big harry APE!

What I mean by that is we are the ones who allow things to grow or go. Feeding the beast is when you allow the situation or person to be bigger than you or your actions (it grows). Contrarily, when you focus on taming the big harry APE, you become bigger than the situation (it goes) through your:

• Awareness 

• Personality 

• Expectations 

Be aware of what is happening, and that you are in control of you...not them, nor do you likely want to be, and that the control you have is stronger than anything else. Your personality is uniquely you, and with that, you have strengths and opportunities to improve. Go with your strengths, and adjust your personality to the situation to convey those strengths. Also, set expectations for you and others with clear communication, boundaries and exchanges so that you know when to stay and when to leave.

With your focus on your Awareness, Personalities, and Expectations, you will not feed the beast, but rather consistently, and happily, tame the big harry APE!!!

Lead for GROWTH

"A man's growth is seen in the successive choirs of his friends."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. (1803 - 1882)

Often a good way to grow ourselves as leaders is to assist in the growth of others.

Who can you be a part of in his or her GROWTH? Meaning:

G - Give that person the

R - Responsibility and

O - Opportunity to

W - Work within their

T - Talent and time while

Hearing feedback for learning

Remember, GROWTH is a good thing...for their leadership and yours!