A Management Moment with…Words of wisdom you can implement in a minute or less

Bill Gates

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

“We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.”

— Bill Gates

Can you even imagine working for someone with the stature, power and wealth of a Bill Gates or a Jack Welch? Can you imagine telling them how things should be done around here? And yet successful leaders expect continuous improvement for their teams and themselves, and they are bright enough to know two things: (1) They have smart people around them with valuable insights; and (2) People are reluctant to give upward feedback, especially to very powerful leaders.

Now ask yourself three things:

1. Who on my team might be hesitant to give me feedback that I need to hear?

2. What can I do to make it safe and comfortable for them to give me feedback?

3. How will I manage my moment of discomfort while receiving potentially hard-to-hear information?

Midyear reviews are a good time to give and receive feedback. It’s your chance to invite people to participate in your continuous improvement process.