Why you need to be able to give feedback...

Last month I was running a corporate workshop where we explored our natural communication style, how to adapt it and communicate assertively (not passive-aggressively) and why taking ownership is a mindset you NEED to adopt.

And as we talked about the difficulties of talking to people who have a different communication style to us, it was clear that there were some common frustrations coming up. For some people they were getting cross because they were consistently picking up other people’s mistakes and for other people they were having to explain the same thing several times.

But it was clear there was 1 thing that was missing that could actually change these situations. Feedback.

Now, before the thought of sharing feedback with your colleagues sends shudders down your back, hear me out. When we learn to communicate better we actually reduce the amount of conflicts that are likely to occur. But if we want this to happen we have to learn how to do this in a healthy way. And feedback is part of this process.

Feedback is just an opinion, it’s not THE truth, it’s not about being right or wrong, it’s about sharing your ideas which in turn can help motivate the other person and give them a different way of learning and growing.

And if you’re not convinced yet, here’s 3 reasons to encourage you to do it a little more…

It gives someone the opportunity to change

Too often my clients will say to me, “Amira, there's no point sharing this with them, because, well, they’ll never change”. And whilst I agree you can’t make someone change, if you never have the conversation, I can assure you, you can’t have the expectation that they will.

We often don't know how we come across

As humans, we like to see things through our own filter and perspective and there are times we can come across in a way we haven’t intended. By having a feedback conversation, it creates space for the other person to look at something through a different lens.

It creates open, honest and transparent communication

When feedback is done well, it’s powerful. Whilst I get all of the reasons it can feel uncomfortable and awkward to begin with, it can also build relationships and deepen trust between two people. One of the first times I gave feedback to a senior leader, every part of my body wanted to pretend it wasn’t a big deal and that it wasn’t important. But it was. And 3 months later after working closely together, they shared that they respected me more after our conversation.

I'd love to hear what's helped you, what's resonated and what you want more of, so drop me an email hello@amiras.co.uk or drop me a DM @the_communicationexpert.

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WHAT’S STOPPING YOU GIVING FEEDBACK TO SOMEONE?

I’ve shared this week’s journal prompt above so take 5, grab your phone, a notepad or record your thoughts on audio and spend time reflecting on this question

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