Why Is Employee Feedback So Difficult?
Why is giving feedback to your employees such a difficult task?
It shouldn’t be, if you know how to prepare!
A well-functioning team always achieves more than individuals on their own. Part of being a good manager is being able to manage this team. Sometimes this is easy and sometimes it can be a challenge. One thing that I have found is that, no matter what the situation, people find it difficult to give their employees feedback — whether it be good or bad.
Feedback is key to a successful working relationship. People need to know what you want and they need to know what to change.
Feedback is something you should aim to give regularly, whether it is a well-planned scheduled session or just purely two minutes at the end of a meeting. When it comes to giving feedback, the one point I always start with is “be open and honest” in the feedback you are giving. This sounds simple but you would be surprised how difficult people find it.
Being honest requires some preparation. While this is not the same as preparing for a formal counselling session, before the discussion you need to spend time figuring out what is the key message you want the person to take away and how are you going to deliver it.
Get yourself clear on:
- What the person does well.
- What you want them to do more off.
- Key talents needed for organisation success and what your organisation (and team) needs from them.
- Where they are less efficient, letting you down or underperforming.
- What their role is in your team.
Of course, this is not a complete list. Figure out the messages you want to give. Work each answer down to a clear, simple sentence. Be prepared to give a specific example if asked to explain.
You need to deliver these messages very succinctly. Focus on the tasks more then the personality. Remember the aim is to give them clear ideas about what you want them to do differently or more of.
If you are planning to have a formal feedback session, you should also use the time to ask the questions and get some answers. For example, ask them what feedback they give themselves.
— Anthony
Are you a consultant? Do you want to be a “trusted advisor” to your clients? Maybe you need to trust THEM more! Strong client relationships are key as they create opportunities for providing more services. The pinnacle of this is: Being considered a “Trusted Advisor.” I was a consultant and a client of consultants. My realisation: many consultants think that are giving advice, and maybe they are, but its only technical and business at best. A “Trusted Advisor” is someone who adds the personal advice. In addition to outlining the issue and providing the options available they, the individual, goes that one step further and tells you what they would do if they were in your position. Why is this important? People like to know that they are making the right decision. In a professional service firm, it is easy to debate issues around a table and get different views. In a corporate environment, it is a lot lonelier at the top. Knowing that a similarly qualified person would do the same thing in your position is comforting and helpful. It can be that little bit of reassurance you need – the sanity check in your decision making process. Now to some people, and in some professions, this may seem like a risky thing to do. After all, what if it turns out that the decision is the wrong one. Can a client now blame you for giving bad advice? This is where the word “trust” comes in. Not all professional services providers are the same and likewise not all clients are the same. If you cannot trust that your client understands the difference between professional advice and personal opinion are you really going to be their Trusted Advisor. So my advice: pick clients who are sophisticated enough to understand what a trusted advisor is and then start being more personal in the advice you give. Firms aren’t trusted advisors – people are.
Electronic calendars are a fantastic tool. They allow you to know where you need to be and when you need to be there where ever you are in the world. If you want a meeting with someone, you can just send them an invitation and it shows up in their calendar and now that virtual meetings have taken off and have even become a preference they can even be arranged at short notice. There is a downside to this - do you now spend your life in meetings? Do you open your calendar in the morning and see no white space? How can you get more control over this? I suggest you ask three simple questions when anyone asks for a meeting: 1. Is it URGENT ? 2. WHAT is it about? 3. How LONG do you need? Asking these three questions really focuses the mind of the people wanting to meet you. You'll know: 1. How important it is; 2. Whether its something you want to meet about; and 3. A realistic time fame If you ask these questions you will be amazing at how many 15 minute meetings appear in your diary. And after 15 minutes you can throw them out. One final point - if you have a personal assistant, get them to ask the questions and remove the administrative burden altogether. If you would like to know more feel free to contact me below.
As the owner of a business, it's easy to become consumed by work and neglect other important aspects of your life. The constant demands, long hours, and need to be “constantly on” can lead to stress and leaving you feeling drained, unmotivated, and even resentful towards your business and employees. If nothing is done, it can ultimately lead to complete burnout. Achieving a healthy work-life balance is crucial for both your personal well-being and the long-term success of your business. Here are some practical strategies to help you strike the right balance between your professional and personal life. 1. Prioritize You: the Person Running a business can be mentally, physically, and emotionally taxing. It's essential to put aside some of your time to maintain your energy levels. Make time for activities that rejuvenate you, whether it's exercise, meditation, reading, or simply spending time with family and friends at a purely social level. When you prioritize your well-being, you'll be better equipped to handle the demands of your business. 2. Set Boundaries and Learn to Unplug In the digital age, it's tempting to be "on" all the time. While this is true for everyone, when you run a business the need to know everything that is happening every minute of the day never stops. Anything that you leave on all the time eventually stops working . Set clear boundaries between work and personal time, and learn to unplug from your business when you're not working. This might mean disabling email notifications, avoiding work-related tasks during designated personal time, or even just turning the phone off for a couple of hours. 3. Delegate and Outsource As the owner and the person ultimately responsible, it's natural to want to be involved in every aspect of your business. However, trying to do everything yourself is the one thing that will always lead to you continuing to do it yourself . Learn to delegate tasks to trusted employees or outsource non-essential tasks to freelancers or the increasingly popular virtual assistant. This will free up your time and energy to focus on the most important aspects of your business. 4. Cultivate a Support System You don't have to know all the answers . Building a strong support system is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Surround yourself with individuals who understand the demands of entrepreneurship and can offer emotional support, guidance, and accountability. This could include a mentor, a coach, or even fellow business owners who can share their experiences and insights. 5. Schedule Downtime and Vacations As a business owner, it's easy to neglect taking time off , but regular downtime and vacations are essential for recharging and preventing burnout. Schedule regular breaks, whether it's a weekend getaway or a longer vacation, and make a conscious effort to fully disconnect from work during these periods. This will allow you to return to your business feeling refreshed and energized. Achieving a healthy work-life balance is an ongoing process that requires mindfulness, discipline, and a willingness to prioritize your well-being. By implementing these strategies, you'll be better equipped to overcome burnout, maintain your passion for your business, and enjoy a fulfilling life outside of work. If you find the whole concept of work-life balance out of your reach or impossible to even contemplate, then you need to look at it differently: https://www.karritree.com/make-a-healthy-work-life-balance-your-new-normal