How can I overcome my fear of giving feedback?

Why This Matters

To become Fit to Lead you must understand that requesting and giving feedback is essential because it:

• Improves Performance: Feedback maps out your strengths—both natural and learned—and highlights areas for growth. Knowing what to tackle empowers you to excel.

• Accelerates Career Growth: It helps identify which skills to enhance or leverage as competitive advantages. With a plan and clear targets, you can advance with purpose.

• Broadens Perspective: Feedback, when used as a two-way tool, enriches understanding of oneself and the work environment, fostering personal and professional growth.

Common Challenges

Providing feedback is often challenging. These 3 areas tend to generate confusion:

1. Choosing the Right Topics
   Not all feedback is equally valuable. Focus on areas that genuinely contribute to individual growth or organizational solutions, avoiding trivial or superficial issues.

2. Timing It Right
   Feedback is most impactful when delivered at the right time; there’s no universal formula, but thoughtful timing is key. Consider factors like:

   • The context and importance of the topic.

   • The emotions of both you and the recipient.

   • Timing of the day and current workload.

3. Delivering the Message Effectively
   The hardest part is crafting the delivery. Ensure your feedback includes:

   • Clarity: Be specific about the issue.

   • Tone: Use a respectful and supportive approach.

   • Examples: Provide context to help understanding.

   • Actionable Suggestions: Offer recommendations for improvement.

When feedback is clear, actionable, and empathetic, it becomes a powerful tool for growth.

Try This Instead

Once you've addressed the three challenges, use these five strategies to enhance your feedback process:

1. Align Your Intent
   Genuine, authentic intent makes feedback easier to deliver. Mean what you say, and approach the conversation with sincerity.

2. Connect to Goals
   Map team objectives to individual development areas. If the feedback supports this connection, address it. If not, let it go and focus on more impactful matters.

3. Balance Praise and Correction
   Feedback isn’t just about pointing out issues; it’s also about recognizing good work. Follow Vince Lombardi’s advice:

   “Praise in public; criticize in private.”

4. Adapt to Personality Types
   Know your team members’ personalities and tailor your approach to ensure the message resonates. Becoming Fit to Lead you must adapt your style for greater impact.

5. Make It a Habit
   Establish a feedback routine that fits your team’s needs. Consistency builds trust and strengthens your feedback skills.

And remember that when in doubt about what to say or how to say it, choose kindness.