Mastering the Art of Receiving Feedback
This blog tells you why and how honest feedback will build a better version of you. Mastering the art of receiving feedback will undoubtedly make you a stand out leader. It is not easy to achieve. Hence most people avoid receiving feedback. Let me help you let go of that fear.
By KARINE RAYSON
Firstly, I would like to highlight that anyone can be a leader. Your title does not define you. So often, we get caught up with climbing the ranks for the wrong reasons that when we eventually do get to the top, our preconceived idea of the meaning of leadership is somewhat contrastingly different.
How to be a stand out Leader
Reflection
Be strategic and intentional about the leadership style you choose to adopt. Understand the leader you are and know the leader you want to become.
Journal
Take the time to journal what leadership means to you, how you want to be perceived by others and why it is important to you to develop yourself to this level.
Attributes
To be an inspiring leader, you need to demonstrate the attributes that make up an influential leader. What we may consider being admirable traits might not necessarily resonate with your team. Therefore the best way to find out is to ask your peers for feedback. Sure it can be confronting, and you may be fearful of receiving feedback that you don’t necessarily want to hear, but this is critical in identifying your areas of weakness and strengthening your leadership style. The more self-awareness that we develop, the more likely our leadership skills will grow exponentially. Download your free step-by-step guide in mastering the art of receiving feedback here.
Uncover the gaps
My second tip is to uncover the gaps in your leadership style by using a feedback model. As leaders, we must be adept in understanding, motivating and leading people. If we are not skilled in these areas, how can the team subscribe to your overarching vision and desired goals?
The feedback model I recommend and regularly use in coaching sessions is Johari’s Window. Walking alongside my clients, we go on a journey of self-exploration where we discover blind spots, weaknesses and take personal strengths to new heights.
My philosophy is to lead with purpose; you would want to leave each person interacting with you feeling more engaged and inspired than you found them. By investing in yourself as a leader, you will be far more likely to succeed or attain the leadership level you desire to achieve.
Leadership is complex as you have to negotiate your workload, fulfil your responsibilities, and lead the team to achieve common goals while negotiating interpersonal differences.
Learn how to master your craft
Feedback is gold. Once you have received it, put it to good use, take action and channel it into making a positive impact. We are all a work in progress. Without growth challenges, how can we learn, improve and evolve?
I highly encourage you to invest in your self-development. I have created a free leadership workbook focussing on mastering the art of feedback to help help you in transforming your leadership skills. Get access to it here.
In short, leadership is not automatically acquired as you go up the ranks. It is earned. Teams look up to their leaders because their actions inspire them. Your attitudes and behaviours directly influence the team’s morale, productivity, and engagement, whether you like it or not. My question to you is what does leadership mean to you, and what legacy do you want to leave?
If you haven’t yet read the complimentary blog Master the Art of Delivering feedback, you can read it here.