Executive coach Sabina Nawaz recalls working with a client who was so hungry for praise that her people doled it out simply to please her. Sound familiar?
Receiving honest feedback from those you manage can be challenging because of the power gap. But constructive criticism can be the most effective means for a leader to illuminate their blind spots. Nawaz offers these tips for managers to get authentic assessments from those they supervise:
- Ask for specifics – Instead of “How did I do?” ask, “What’s one thing, if I did more or less of it, it would make your life easier?”
- Use scaling – Have someone pin feedback to a If someone rates your management performance at 7, ask them what it would take to move to an 8 or 9.
- Externalize the ask – Take the individual out of the Ask, “What would someone who was super critical say about my management style?”
The ask is only half the assignment. Be a good listener. “If you want quality feedback, you need to bring quality presence,” Nawaz says.
As a former executive in charge of leadership development at Microsoft, Nawaz said she experienced in person how intently Bill Gates would listen to input from employees and then ask follow-up questions.
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