Running a business and managing clients, vendors and, especially, a team, is amazing and rewarding but also comes with its own set of challenges.
Maybe someone on your team isn’t meeting expectations, meeting deadlines or showing up on time… These things create a problem. Or your vendor didn’t deliver according to the deadline or maybe the work just wasn’t up to par.
When problems like those pop up, difficult conversations are the natural response.
Whether someone has gone above and beyond and exceeded your expectations, or you’re sharing things they need to improve upon, in order to have a successful, well-oiled machine as a business owner, you have to be able to deliver feedback.
I know what you’re thinking, “OK, well I’ll just talk to them.”
Right?
Wrong!
You don’t want to deliver just ANY kind of feedback – you want to deliver EFFECTIVE feedback.
Delivering effective feedback is one of the best ways to improve your working environment on a daily basis and make sure you are setting your team up for success, not failure.
Every business needs a leader who delivers effective feedback. The workplace functions smoothly when everyone knows what they are doing well, where they need to improve, and how their work relates to the rest of the business. And when good feedback is delivered consistently, your team members can trust that no one will get seriously off track.
So, just how do you do that? I’m so glad you asked!
Here are 4 steps for delivering excellent feedback:
- Be specific → Using specific, detailed examples helps create a clear understanding of what you expect and what needs to change or continue. When you’re specific, the problem is being addressed instead of swept under the rug.
- Focus on one issue at a time → This helps you to go through one issue thoroughly and allows you to be specific, direct, and keep the conversation open. It’s also much less overwhelming for the person receiving the feedback.
- Identify both what is working well and what areas need to be addressed → We want the good WITH the bad, right? If something isn’t working well, keep things positive and constructive, it helps to have a good reason to give feedback. On the same note, if something IS going well, share that, too!
- Leave enough time (and encourage questions) so that you can have a full conversation about the work → Allowing questions gives you a chance to hear that person’s point of view. Asking questions gives you an opportunity to understand their situation… Both of these things combine to create a mutual discussion.
The next time you’re getting ready to deliver feedback, come back to this list! Just like anything else, it takes practice. Integrate one of these 4 steps above each time, and your feedback is sure to be effective while maintaining your working relationships.
Another great way to bolster those relationships is by giving gifts and showing your appreciation for a job well done, or even just to thank someone for being part of your relational world.
Some of my favorite gifts to give are:
- Sugarwish → My go-to gift for anyone with a sweet tooth! It’s so easy, you pick the size and type of treat and your recipient gets to pick their favorite specifics to fill the box.
- Serve Kindness → From vases to diffusers to beautiful bowls, Serve Kindness helps you give beautiful gifts while giving back.
If you’re reading this dreaming about growing your team but still feeling like a major Solopreneur… you’re ahead of the game! Check out from Solo-to-CEO to help you make your first hire and make sure you get the right people doing the right things in your business.
