Have you ever received feedback and wondered, “Where on earth did that come from?” It seems so not like you, hard to believe, downright wrong.  Of course, sometimes, feedback is based on misperception.  And, at other times, it may be a precious gift you don’t want to accept. Feedback that sounds foreign – unlike anything […]

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Have you ever asked for feedback? Your request signals a desire to learn about the impact of your actions and make improvements.  While it is absolutely true that you have the right to act on the feedback you receive or ignore it completely, you also should be aware that those who muster up the courage to […]

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Harvard Business Review reported on a study conducted in India, wherein employees who were disappointed by their wage increase were given the chance to voice their concerns. They saw a marked difference in absenteeism and people quitting among the group that spoke out. This is important for two reasons.  One, feeling heard is a basic human […]

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Asking for and getting feedback is hard.  Most people never do it – even though conventional wisdom is that feedback makes us better and helps us achieve our goals.  To get the full advantage of feedback, it’s a good idea to think through the entire process — from asking to implementing. Let’s assume that you’ve asked for […]

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When you’re asked to give someone feedback, does it put you on edge?  Even when the request is made with genuine openness, do you feel afraid of being perceived as overly critical and being rejected because of what you share?  Trust me, you’re not alone.   Giving feedback is a scary proposition for most people.  Fear about giving feedback […]

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Delivering negative feedback or criticism is rarely easy.  Receiving it may be even more difficult.  But researchers at University of Toronto found that how people receive criticism depends greatly on the source.   Through field and lab experiments, they discovered that when negative feedback comes from a boss or a peer, the receiver’s creativity level drops.  The researchers concluded […]

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As hard as it is to give others feedback, receiving it can be even more challenging. But, everyone who is focused on success needs feedback. If you’re a leader who is looking for feedback, Robert Kaplan writes in the Harvard Business Review that you can ask the people around you. It may sound counterintuitive, but […]

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  You know how critically important credibility and trustworthiness are in relationships. Interaction by interaction, your credibility and trustworthiness are established in the minds of others.   In the micro-movements and subtle energy of day-to-day exchanges, your reputation is built and reinforced. People hear what we say, but more importantly, they notice what we do. If […]

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      When you engage with others, particularly when raising an issue, be clear about the role you want them to play. Knowing what you want, and asking for it, enables others to do a better of job of helping you in just the way you want. For example, you could ask the person […]

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    In your professional and personal life, problems that persist are a valuable source of feedback. Yet, we often ignore the opportunity they present. Instead of looking within for solutions, we tend to look outside of ourselves for someone or something to blame. When you hear yourself thinking or saying, “They started this. It’s […]

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  Whether you’re going to your own company’s holiday party, your significant other’s, or something thrown by a client or colleague, remember these important survival tips: 1) Dress appropriately. The parts of you that shouldn’t be shown at work also shouldn’t be shown at the company parties, even if the party is on Saturday night. […]

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Is there someone in your workplace whose behavior and career you’re watching? Do you interact with them in ways that make your professional interest evident? Human beings need to feel seen and cared about. If you’ve not explicitly acknowledged your interest in the person’s growth, do so. Reach out and help by coaching, mentoring, or […]

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Recently, a new client told me that two years ago her boss articulated a vision for how she wanted the senior leadership team to operate.  Today, she said, “People are behaving exactly as they have for years.  There’s been no change.  We’re still highly paid technical experts – not developers of people, and certainly not […]

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The 18- to 35-year-old workers in your organization are the millennials.  They are a breed unto themselves, just as preceding generations have been. Here are a few interesting facts about millennials – offered not to stereotype, but with the intention of acknowledging prevalent patterns among the group: They’re the most culturally diverse and well-educated generation […]

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What do you do when you care about a person?  You find ways to support their happiness and success, particularly when they’re motivated and moving in that direction. What’s a good way to get behind someone you care about and help them increase their effectiveness and propel themselves forward?  Give them one of these forms […]

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