How strong are your feedback skills? How do your personality and prior experiences affect your natural approach to giving feedback? Reflect on the common challenges described below.
Withholding Feedback
Do you have high empathy and value harmonious relationships? Would you consider yourself conflict-avoidant? (For example, you might be higher in the DISC “S” style, or you may have higher Agreeableness in the Big 5 personality assessment.) If so, you may be reluctant to give direct feedback.
Reflect on times when you have avoided or delayed giving someone constructive feedback. How did you feel at the time? What thoughts did you have?
Feedback without Care
Do you naturally challenge others? Would others consider you to be blunt? (For example, you might be higher in the DISC “D” style, or you may have lower Agreeableness in the Big 5 personality assessment.) If so, you probably have no problem giving feedback, but you might be unaware of how it makes others feel.
Reflect on a time when you’ve delivered feedback but it caused an emotional reaction in the other person. Did you deliver the feedback from a place of caring? What could you have done differently?
Do You Promote Psychological Safety?
A thriving feedback culture requires a high level of psychological safety. People need to feel comfortable with being authentic, transparent, and speaking their minds. Do you think your team members feel comfortable giving you feedback? Why or why not?
Reflect!
After completing this reflection activity, consider leaving a short entry in the LEADx app using the Coaching Plan Activity “Reflect” button.
