QUESTION: How Do I Tackle Negative Feedback?

Dear Merry,

I've been a leader at a Fortune 500 company for quite some time. I have a reputation for being tough but loyal to my staff and committed to their success. I just received some feedback and was told that my style is too abrasive and that I alienate my team. How should I modify my leadership style and improve my game without losing my influence? I don't want to be seen as a soft leader.



RESPONSE: Accessibility & Influence


Dear Executive,
You are wise to consider the feedback and be open to change. Your demeanor may have worked in an older, hierarchical corporate setting, but in today's consensus-driven culture there's a good chance that you are contributing to employee burn out and low morale. In an effort to improve your reputation and empower you to lead more effectively, I encourage you to:

1. Acknowledge the feedback with a group of key constituents
2. Talk about the change effort for which you are holding yourself accountable
3. Formulate a clear plan for change

Here are some tips:
Increase Accessibility: Your team members will perform best when they feel comfortable enough to express themselves and participate in the decision making process. Reach out and let them know that you are available and want to be involved in their progress.

Solicit Feedback: Give your staff opportunities to provide feedback. If you wait for the annual review to tackle issues then you've lost precious time. Check-in regularly and provide ways for them to share what's on their mind. This will help to build the trust necessary to increase dialog and open the communication channels.

Share Positive Feedback: Go back to your game with an eye to catch what people are doing right. Your team wants to hear from you when they do things well -- not just when there's a problem. It will improve your reputation immensely to communicate praise for a job well done.

Find a Coach: Taking on any new role or habit requires patience and practice. Find a trusted ally who understands your business and role play specific situations that you encounter at work. Use the feedback to identify areas, such as your body language or tone of voice, which may affect how you are perceived.

You also express concern about appearing "soft and losing your influence. Let's start by looking at how you define "influence and then create a new definition that will allow you to move forward in a way that will inspire and encourage those who work for you. Here are a few tips:

" Understand your staff and what motivates them
" Establish an environment of mutual respect
" Spend time socializing with your staff

This is a valuable experience and I congratulate you for being open to making some changes. Using the strategies above will ensure that the transition to your new style of management will be smooth and rewarding.

Dare to Deliver!

Merry


Merry Marcus
President
www.breakthroughconsulting.com



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