Encyclopedia of Leadership

HOW TO USE THIS LEADERSHIP TOOL

“Criticism is a by-product of significant action. ...And the more valid the criticism, the

more difficult it is to receive.”

—Warren Bennis, AN INVENTED LIFE

If people don’t give you feedback, rather than complaining or wondering why this isn’t hap-

pening, be proactive. Decide whose feedback you would value, then go out and seek their per-

spective. Similarly, think of people who might benefit from receiving your feedback, and then

take the initiative to provide feedback to them.

WEB WORKSHEET

We learn best from our successes. As a first step in preparing a feedback improvement plan,

use the space provided to review a past success that you had when giving and receiving diffi-

cult feedback.

The skill of giving and receiving feedback is too important for a leader to take for granted.

Reread the do’s and don’ts provided and, thinking about your past successes with giving and

receiving feedback, use the space provided to plan improvements in how you carry out this

essential leadership behavior.

SECTION 12 TOOLS FORLEADINGRELATIONSHIPS 373

Briefly outline a situation in which you did a

particularly good job of providing difficult feedback to

another person.

What specifically did youdo that made this process go

so well?

Briefly outline a situation in which you received difficult

feedback particularly well.

What specifically did youdo that made this process go

so well?