How Fast Growing Leaders Receive Feedback

When asked, “What’s the number one thing you look for in someone who can scale with a company?” Facebook COO and leadership expert Sheryl Sandberg replied, “Someone who takes feedback well. Because people who can take feedback well are people who can learn and grow quickly.”

Receiving feedback with an open mind and heart is a skill to cultivate intentionally. It's not a trait that some people have while others don't.

In coaching sessions, even the more confident leaders reveal that they get anywhere from a sense of discomfort all the way to sweaty hands or mild anxiety.

I do have a couple of clients (both male) who said something along of the lines of "I RELY on feedback to grow. I proactively ask my stakeholders on a regular basis for feedback and am annoyed when they dismiss me with a 'you're doing fine' comment."

Both leaders are on the fast track, growing and thriving. Here is what they're doing:

1. They know that feedback is a tool for their growth, and are curious to hear how others see their performance.
2. They know that feedback is data, representing subjective opinions of how their work is perceived, not a judgement of them as a person.
3. They use coaching sessions with me and their mentors to process feedback they receive to identify meaningful gaps. They process anything that disappoints or surprises them.
4. They turn gaps into a skill to grow
5. Not everything in the feedback leads to growth. They choose what they WANT to focus on and practice and grow. The rest is set aside.
6. They engage their manager to get support and create accountability. Their growth is also their manager's responsibility, not theirs alone.
7. They check in regularly (monthly) with their manager to ensure progress and set up that positive feedback cycle which is so important.

Receiving feedback is hard for all of us - we're humans! Remember to keep the feedback cycle open throughout the year.

Constructive feedback is a powerful source of insight meant to help your own growth, not to hinder it.

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