It’s the end of the year. As we prepare for the holidays and upcoming new year resolutions that means it’s also time for end of year reviews.
This is a topic that often makes managers cringe. It can feel like a lot of administrative work and checking boxes for the organization. But what would happen if you used this time to give meaningful and effective feedback? What if this became an exciting time to talk about growth, development, and big goals for a new year?
This week on Learning to Lead the live clubhouse discussions, we talked about Giving Effective Feedback, why it is important, how to do it, and how to prepare. It was an informative conversation full of resources and tips. Here are a few takeaways from the discussion:
Annual feedback provides the opportunity to work with our teams to plan for the future, identifying growth, goals, and the beginning of plans to succeed, even in failure.
Give continuous feedback. End of year reviews should never be a surprise to anyone. Feedback should be timely, and the end of year discussions should reinforce previous feedback.
Be clear and specific with your feedback. Vague feedback or compliment sandwiches (good feedback, bad feedback, good feedback) tend to be ineffective. Be clear providing examples and partnership to find solutions.
Find the tools that work for you and your team. Use something that allows you to capture end of year reviews, goals, and objectives, as well as ongoing feedback throughout the year. This can be as simple as an online document that you both edit and review on a quarterly basis.
Avoid falling into the number rating system. Applying numerical ratings can feel punitive and limit effective feedback and discussions.
When gathering feedback solicit input from multiple sources. The sources should be recommendations from your team member, from you, and should include their subordinates. Giving a well-rounded review from multiple sources can be challenging but reinforce how important feedback is, and ensure we are considering stakeholders beyond our direct leaders.
Collect feedback from your teams. Modelling behaviour is important. As you are going through the end of year review cycle, make sure you take the time to collect feedback from your team members and partners and take it seriously.
Be prepared. Take the time to focus intentionally on the reviews and feedbcak you will provide. Understand the impact your words and actions have on others. Be present in the conversation and ensure you are in the right mindset.
At the end of the day, we are all humans working together. We as leaders have the responsibility to take this time seriously, that is the difference between leading and managing. If you want your team to succeed embrace feedback, embrace continuous feedback, and embrace the end of year review cycle for the opportunity it is.
Quote of the Week
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. - John Quincy Adams
Resources
Radical Candor: a book and series of videos to embrace humanity and the art of feedback
Manager’s Tool: a great resource and tool for effective 1:1s
Secret of Giving Effective Feedback: a Ted talk all about feedback
What Good Feedback Looks Like: an article by Harvard Business Review
Google Forms: a very easy tool to collect feedback, even anonymously from multiple sources
Random Humor: Keanu Reeves laughing about NFTs
Listen to the Full Replay
Events
How to Build Better Leaders and Managers–Today on December 14, 2021 - join an online event with the author of the One Minute Manager and over 60 other best-selling business books to discover the keys to help you unlock the potential in your organization.
Empathic Leader: Solutions for Keeping People at Great Companies - December 14, 2021: In this live virtual event, MIT Master Executive Coach Sloan School of Management, Rob Salafia will share his unique insights from 20 years as a theater professional and 25 years as a top leadership development executive and coach. Rob is CEO of Protagonist Consulting Group and author of the book Leading from your Best Self (McGraw-Hill).
Atlas Obscura Winter Wonder Show 2021 - December 16, 2021: I’m a huge fan of this site, and looking forward to a fun and informative event.
TED 2022 - April 2022: A lot has changed since we last gathered in Vancouver for TED three years ago. We return not for more of the same, wonderful though that was, but to celebrate a new era. Despite the awfulness we’ve lived through, the future beckons with extraordinary possibilities we couldn’t have dreamt of. In medicine, in AI, in clean energy, in the ways we work, the ways we learn, and in the fundamental economic and social systems that underpin everything else. Come and be part of something extraordinary.
Networking & Job Openings
Current Job Openings:
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Next time on Learning to Lead: Setting and Achieving Ambitious Goals
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Join us LIVE in the official Learning to Lead Clubhouse Saturday, December 18, 2021 from 9:30-10:30 am PT.
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