Teammates that see feedback as a personal attack are too insecure to improve. Their perspective is to avoid feedback because the very message that improvement is needed strikes at their insecurity that they don’t measure up. The defensive teammate categorizes it as a problem saying that the team is too critical but I have found that accusation
How do I know if someone on the team embraces and expects evaluation? I believe there are clear moments that naturally occur on any team that seeks to improve. Teammates that do not get defensive when feedback is given are on the right track. Teammates that receive feedback well not only acknowledge the need to change but
One of the most important attributes that a team should recruit for is a healthy expectation of evaluation, accountability, and feedback. There are people that have gone their entire lives avoiding feedback because of a bad example or experience early on. Those people quickly become dead weight to a team because when the time comes to evaluate,
Ordinary teams do not value feedback the same way that great teams do. The major distinction between great and ordinary is the drive to improve and the interface with the uncomfortable reality of our actual performance. It’s not that ordinary teams don’t want to improve. It’s that they are uncomfortable with what it takes to actually improve.
Great teams have an evaluative culture. They don’t consider feedback as a micro-aggression that demolishes their self esteem. They understand that their leader and teammates want what is best for the team and each teammate. They understand that direct feedback is the quickest path to actual improvement and they don’t take it personal. Instead, they sense something
Every teammate has areas to grow and improve. People make mistakes. People experience learning curves. Since all of these facts are true of everyone, they shouldn’t be considered deal breakers. The deal breaker is when someone tries to deny these facts as true for them. When someone is foolish enough to believe that they have nothing to
Wisdom only ever happens to the humble. This is because only the humble can receive feedback from the most important sources. When my pride gets the best of me, that’s usually when I refuse to listen to feedback from what I consider to be the least credible source. Feedback from the naysayer may be easily dismissible, however,
Teams that have valuable members should make sure they do everything they can to retain them. People leave teams for any number of reasons but smart teams never give great teammates a reason to leave the team by under-compensating them or limiting their ability to gain a promotion. It’s not about walking on eggshells. It’s about never
Everyone gets frustrated with people who never seem to learn. When I think I know better, I have little incentive to become a learner. Success in the past does not always generalize to success today. It takes humility to believe that the methods that got me my past success will not ensure future success. There is always
There are some things that are universally true. These are best practices and easily proven methods that everyone knows are the correct way to go. What if they are wrong? What if what I believe about limits and work ethic can be challenged? What if all my success came despite the sentiments I hold so dear? What