Having a culture of feedback is different than having a culture of criticism. Critics have a way of pointing out our faults and while their observations may have a kernel of truth in them, they are not behaving like a teammate. Criticism is not constructive if it isn’t edifying. Edification builds a team which is a figurative
Some people say they work at their best when the pressure is on. That’s usually a procrastinator making themselves sound heroic for waiting until the last minute. Pressure creates anxiety and it also creates all kinds of terrible anxiety-induced chemicals in our body when we feel it. Great teams know that there are enough pressure-filled moments they
A feedback loop is just that – a loop. This means that feedback should not go unresponded to. This does not mean that every idea is a good idea. It means that when feedback is given, it should be treated as a conversation. In fact, feedback should be the machine that drives most of the conversations a
Every team that is built to grow requires a feedback loop. This form of important communication requires intentional systems to ensure it happens, even when inconvenient. Convenience is usually the number one priority of those who are fatigued so it is important to create an expectation where, despite the inconvenience, the feedback is expected because anyone can
Great teammates want feedback. All of the feedback. Not just the compliments. It’s good to want to be recognized for our accomplishments but it‘s better to seek outside opinions that we can learn from. Developing an appetite for constructive feedback is an important part of growth. Otherwise we surround ourselves with people who will always paint a
Starting something is more about our perception of our ability to accomplish something. The start is always a subjective judgment about our ability, regardless of whether it’s based in confidence or insecurity, because we have no idea what we will actually face. Whether or not we finish what we start is an objective look at our actual
We all want to be better. We also have obstacles and puzzles to solve to actually become a better version of ourselves. If this wasn’t true, we would already be better. After deciding who we want to be (destination), we need to decide what we need to do to get there (path). Feedback is likely on the
When we reflect, it is important to see the wins. It’s natural to want to dwell on the pain or aversive experiences. Those cause our emotions to draw our attention away from the quiet good that gets pushed to the corners of our lives. All of us have something we can be proud of. If you think
The Houston Astros are a great case study in the villain label. They won the championship in 2017 and could have received a villain label for outlasting everyone that year. Recently it has come to light that they may have earned a different type of villain label by cheating and compromising the integrity of the outcome of
I have been watching the various apologies by Houston Astro players and team executives for the sign stealing that they have been proven to have participated in during their 2017 championship season and I am surprised at a couple of things. I am surprised at the scripted apologies from multiple players. When someone else writes your apology,