Giving and receiving feedback is probably one of life’s greatest challenges both personally and professionally. As leaders, it is critical to continually develop our capacity for both giving and receiving feedback, both positive and negative. Most would agree that giving or receiving positive feedback is relatively simple in comparison to giving or receiving negative feedback. In reality though, negative feedback (the stuff we’re not doing or we need to do better), is essential if we are to learn and grow, and how we behave in the face of feedback is where the learning must begin.
Executive coach and author Marshall Goldsmith describes people’s usual reaction to positive and negative feedback this way. He says that we all tend to accept feedback that is compatible to what we believe to be true, and we tend to ‘reject’ feedback that does not match our sense of reality. This concept is akin to pattern recognition or “cognitive dissonance” – that is, our brains gravitate toward information that is known, familiar or concrete. It seems then, that how we react or behave to feedback is in part biological.
For example, if an executive receives feedback that she is a poor listener she may become defensive and deem the comment an insult. After all, she may argue, she did not rise to her current position by not paying attention to others’ needs and wants along the way. Thus, she will ignore the feedback altogether, rendering the process a waste of time and effort. This example could apply to all levels of employees in all kinds of jobs.
Developing a self-awareness that recognizes our innate behavioural tendencies, falls within our skill level of Positive Presence. If you have a new consciousness of your skill of Positive Presence, it’s more than worth taking a closer look into.
Catherine is the President and CEO of CORPORATE HARMONY, providing virtual solutions for leadership development and organizational culture change. Her leadership and coaching experience as a Project Manager in an ever-changing, fast moving technological organization with unrelenting demands drove her to the realization that a positive mindset and strength-building behaviors are essential for today’s complex and chaotic organizational systems. CORPORATE HARMONY’s virtual platform of programs, coaching and performance measurement, is an innovative online technology of tested proprietary content. The world-class content of CORPORATE HARMONY’s Positive Presence Program develops the skill of ‘Positive Presence’ and the necessary ‘Positive Presence Behaviour Competencies’ for maintaining a positive and energized mindset and increased performance in today’s complex work environment, and leading to a culture of collaboration and connection. Catherine’s vision for Corporate Harmony is to bring the skill of “Positive Presence” to the corporate world as it becomes more complex, ambiguous and chaotic. Catherine is uniquely positioned to impact organizations’ productivity and long term success, with her powerful vision of eliminating bad stress from every workplace around the globe, bringing purpose into the people equation to promote healthy, productive and meaningful work cultures and turn the tide on the neglect of mental health on a global scale. Catherine is author of the book: “CORPORATE HARMONY – The Performance Link for Today’s Modern Organization” Catherine can be reached at: Catherine.Osborne@corporateharmony.ca or go to ‘contact us’ on our website www.corporateharmony.ca. Catherine is available for consultation, and can be reached by 519-695-3407.