Solicit Feedback: Monday Morning Management Tip

by Phil Gerbyshak on April 28th, 2008

This week’s Monday Morning Management Tip is a simple, but not easy, one: solicit feedback. I’ll talk about the who, and the how, of feedback below. The first few times I did this, I didn’t like what I got back from folks, but I carried on and did it anyway. You should too.

From whom should you solicit feedback?

Your boss
Your direct reports
Your customers/clients/users
Your peers

How do you solicit feedback?

First, realize that feedback is a gift, so forcing people to give feedback will not work, at least not if you want honest feedback. Some won’t trust you enough, feel like they don’t know you enough, don’t have enough experience working with you, whatever. Don’t take it personally, ask them anyway. Even though it may be because of something you said or did, it doesn’t matter.

that’s not why you’re asking for feedback.

Second, explain why you’re asking for feedback…and that may be different for each group of people you asking for feedback from.

For your team: Ask what you can do to better manage them.
For your boss: Ask how you can do a better job of meeting her/his expectations.
For your customers: Ask what service/service offering you could do better for them.
For your peers: Ask how you could be a better teammate

Then send the e-mail, after you include one caveat:

Say that no matter what they say about you, you are only using the information they share to improve yourself…and MEAN IT!

What do you do with the feedback?

Stay tuned! I’ll tell you in next week’s Monday Morning Management tip.

What would you add to this feedback list? Please share it in the comments below.

b5media.com

Slacker Manager