Giving Feedback Positively in Business

Anyone in the workplace will have to deal with feedback, whether giving or receiving it.  Feedback is one of the many key elements of professional communication.  “Feedback is not abstract, theoretical or debatable – it is extremely personal and thus highly relevant to the recipient.”  While it’s true that criticism is often much more common than praise, this doesn’t have to be true in the workplace.  Look at feedback as constructive criticism.  And therefore, embrace it as positive encouragement.  Feedback is a mechanism for conveying to people how they are perceived by others and allows the recipient an opportunity to evaluate their professional behavior and performance and enables them to consider modifications to it where necessary.  By learning how to manage the dynamics of feedback, both parties (the reviewer and the recipient) can benefit from it.  So how to give positive feedback in business?

Giving feedback is by no means an easy task.  As a reviewer, you must be prepared so that the feedback session is a positive and illuminating experience for the recipient.  That said, feedback can often spiral into a critical and defensive exchange if you’re not prepared to give it constructively so make sure that you are.  Make sure to put time and thought into the process of preparing your feedback by collecting concrete examples upon which to illustrate your points.

If you are giving feedback, find an appropriate venue in which to do so.  Make sure to hold it in a private place where you can speak without distraction or interruption and where the recipient feels like their privacy is being respected.  Don’t answer calls or emails during a feedback session – give all your attention to the recipient.

Make sure the recipient is prepared.  It is important that both parties understand the purpose and boundaries of a feedback session before it is held.  You might think about asking the recipient to describe objective they have met or listing any development needs or additional resources they might need to help them perform more effectively.

Create a supportive context for feedback.  Try to ensure that the recipient is receptive to your feedback before you give it.  Allocate sufficient time for your session and provide any relevant documents to back up your feedback.  “Frame your communication carefully so that the [recipient] understands your perspective and what you want to discuss.”  Address defensiveness directly if you feel it arise and ensure the recipient that the session is meant to be constructive not critical.

  

Lead with positive feedback before charting into negative territory.  This will demonstrate to the recipient that they are valued and appreciated for their performance even if it needs improvement.  Be sensitive to the recipient’s reactions especially if they are negative or defensive.  Listen to the recipient with your full attention.  Don’t just evaluate performance; describe it with concrete examples.  “Remember to speak for yourself only, using ‘I’ statements rather than hiding behind the views of colleagues or groups.”

Lead by example when giving feedback.  Demonstrate the behavior you want to see in the recipient.  Don't ask for something that you are not prepared to do yourself.

Ask for feedback on your feedback.  “Even if the session was difficult, it can be an opportunity to build bridges and show your willingness to learn.”

Lastly, honor any agreements made during your feedback session.  If you have promised additional resources or training to improve performance, follow through with that promise.

Remember, feedback is in fact a gift.  When providing feedback, the main motivation is typically to affect a behavior change for the better.  Feedback helps people understand how they are perceived and how they can make positive changes to influence those perceptions.  While giving feedback is indeed a difficult task, if you do it constructively, a feedback recipient will be more receptive as to whether or not they take your feedback to heart and instrument it in the workplace so always remind yourself to give feedback positively, with care and with the best interests of the recipient at heart.

Here are some articles you might want to check out about giving positive feedback in business:

“Five Steps for Giving Productive Feedback”: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/219437

“The Perils of Praise: How to Give Positive Feedback”: http://www.corpedgroup.com/resources/ml/ThePerilsofPraise.asp

“The Art of Giving Positive Feedback: 7 Simples Tips”: http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/14118/the-art-of-giving-positive-feedback-7-simple-tips

“Feedback That Works”: http://blogs.hbr.org/hmu/2009/04/feedback-that-works.html

Until next time…

Building Confidence in Business

In order to succeed in business, you need to have confidence – not just in your goals and objectives but in yourself.  Sometimes stressors get in the way of having confidence but you have to learn to overcome them.  If not, they’ll become unbearable.  Lack of confidence makes it harder to exercise independent decision-making or take appropriate ownership of tasks and duties.  While in a typical corporate 9-5 job, this can lead to the inability to get raises or promotions, in your own business this can mean the difference between success and failure.  Very few people succeed in business without a degree of confidence.  While some days you’ll be unsure of your abilities, this doesn’t mean they have to hold you back.  Confidence can lead to security which in turn leads to better performance.  “Overcoming self-doubt starts with honestly assessing your abilities (and your shortcomings) and then getting comfortable enough to capitalize on (or correct) them.”  So how to make sure you project confidence in business?

First off, preparation is key.  Prepare for your work environment by analyzing the skills that are necessary to do your job effectively.  Identify competencies you’ll need to get your job done so that you can better serve clients and customers alike.  If you feel you don’t possess a certain skill set or are lacking in a certain area, take steps to develop those skills.  Find training through a class or direction through a mentor.  Commit yourself every day to developing yourself and your abilities.

Identify your strengths and weaknesses.  Take inventory of both and try to improve upon them.  “Knowing how your character and abilities can positively affect your work setting will increase your confidence level.”  Recognize areas where you feel you are a superior performer and capitalize on them.  Additionally, recognize areas in which you are lacking and evaluate them so that you can start to add value to your work.

Set both long- and short-term goals for yourself that are both reasonable and achievable.  Celebrate your wins along the way.  Sometimes it’s best to start out small.  If you feel overwhelmed that you need to make 50 sales calls in a week, make 10 a day.  Taking small portions of an overall overwhelming goal can make getting there that much more manageable.  Reward yourself for your success or in essence, give yourself that proverbial “pat on the back” when you achieve your goals.  This will lead to an increase in confidence and move you all the more closer to success in the long run.

Manage your environment by controlling internal and external input.  You need to realize that sometimes there will be negative people or detractors that you’ll meet in business.  Try to avoid listening to them.  “Recognize that their negativity is not a reflection of your value but instead is a representation of their lack of understanding.”  Oftentimes, the poor attitudes of others result from their own failures.  Remind yourself that you add value through your work and that your services are needed and wanted by clients and customers alike.

Be prepared.  As the old saying goes: “Practice makes perfect.”  While this might seem trite, it’s true.  The best way to build confidence in your business abilities is to invest positive energy into them.  Don’t give up or throw in the towel when things get difficult.  Remind yourself that it takes time to build confidence but that if you keep trying, you’ll get there.  “Deliberate practice will almost always trump natural aptitude.”

Get out of your own way.  Confident people are willing to admit that they don’t have all the answers at all times.  Recognize the times you need help and be willing to accept it.  You should always be willing to learn and grow in your business endeavors.  Accept guidance and support when it’s offered.  

Ask colleagues or mentors for feedback when you need it.  While you don’t want to rely solely on others, looking to them doesn’t mean a lack of confidence.  In fact, it will often lead to building confidence.  Validation can be key when you’re looking to build your confidence.  Ask people that will be truthful; don’t just surround yourself with “yes men.”  It’s also OK to ask for a pep talk once in a while.  Do whatever it takes to build that confidence that will lead on to success.

Lastly, try taking risks when you can.  If you fail, so what?  The point is: You can pick yourself back up from failure and in turn, try again, succeed and build confidence that way.  While it’s always good to fall back on your known strengths, don’t hesitate to take on new challenges.  Most people don’t know what they’re truly capable of until they’re tested.  So allow yourself to face difficult situations and learn from them by taking away the positives from said situations.  Obviously, this is often easier said than done but by taking a leap of faith with stressors, you can build up your abilities which in turn leads to building up your confidence.

Remember, building up confidence takes time so don’t get down on yourself if it doesn’t happen overnight.  Be honest with yourself about what you know and also what you still need to learn.  Embrace new opportunities even if they are daunting.  Don’t focus excessively on the abilities you don’t have.  Instead, work hard to improve them.  If you follow these guidelines, confidence will follow and confidence most always leads on to business success!

Here are some articles you might want to check out about building confidence in business:

“10 Ways to Be More Confident at Work”: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/03/05/10-ways-to-be-more-confident-at-work/

“What Self-confidence Can Mean to Your Business”: http://www.blogtrepreneur.com/2010/11/17/what-self-confidence-can-mean-to-your-business/

“How to Improve Your Self-confidence in Business”: http://www.essortment.com/improve-self-confidence-business-35762.html

Until next time…

Taking Risks in Business

Risk is a fundamental part of life as it is in any business.  That said, being a risk taker in business is not the same thing as being reckless.  While the word risk might have negative associations to some (that it implies danger and loss), it can be viewed as a positive in business.  If you face challenges and overcome the unknown, you gain the possibility of making a big ROI.  No matter what type of business you run, if you’re not taking risks, then you’re not progressing.  It becomes easier to find new opportunities when you take calculated risks.  While there is always a chance you’re risk might not pay off, there are also times when they will pay.  It’s hard to move forward when you’re playing it safe all the time.  A business is grown by risk taking.  You have to take risks on a consistent basis to create new opportunities and boost your chances of success.  So how to take risks in business without jeopardizing your bottom line?

Look for a new trend.  There are always new and popular trends going on.  Be open to them – don’t box yourself in.  While you may feel that you’ve backed yourself into a niche with your business, you’ll always find that new opportunities present.  Smart entrepreneurs know how to discover and tap into new trends.  Always be on the lookout for them and try and explore them.  Of course, don’t just pounce on any new trend – weigh the pros and cons first.  You have to analyze whether it will be profitable for your business and whether it is the right time to go after such a new opportunity.  Once you’ve balanced all the factors, consider going ahead and capitalizing.

Find an untapped niche.  No matter what type of business you run or what types of products you’re selling, you can always expand your business by looking at under-served niche markets.  Many entrepreneurs fail to capitalize on such an opportunity because they are scared to go outside their comfort zones.  “They don’t really want to risk the reputation or brand they’ve [already] built.”  While it might seem daunting and risky, it’s really not.  The only risk you run is that you won’t have a profitable audience but if there are even a few other businesses operating in that space, there’s no reason you can’t as well.

Look at your competitors’ weaknesses and fill in the gaps they’ve left in the marketplace.  Make their weak points your point of strength.  “This way the risk you take is not only well calculated but also is headed in the right direction.”  To create a successful business you have to be one step ahead of the competition.  By analyzing your competitors, you make your approach to the marketplace more refined.  You should aim to take consistent risks that don’t affect your overall progress or bring you losses you can’t afford.

Chuck the conventional wisdom.  Break some rules and follow others.  “Creating a highly successful business requires that you do things on your own.”  Sometimes it’s better to follow your heart than your head even if that sounds counterintuitive in business.  You want to step outside your comfort zone.  Experiment with new ideas.  Try and find ways to do things that were never done before.

Trust your instincts.  “Your gut feeling can be a great navigator, which can help you take big risks easily.”  Intuition is just another form of knowledge so if you trust your instinct, taking a risk doesn’t seem that scary.  Your intuition often serves you better than rational thinking.

Lastly and possibly most importantly, do something scary every day.  Try new things and new approaches to doing business.  Taking risks involves vulnerability.  Don’t let fear hold you back.  Think of new and innovative ways to approach your business goals.

Here are some articles you might want to check out about taking risks in business:

“Taking Risks in Business Can Help You Make Big Bucks”: http://ezinearticles.com/?Taking-Risks-in-Business-Can-Help-You-Make-Good-Bucks&id=6698688

“Why You Should Take Risks in Business”: http://www.lorensworld.com/business/why-you-should-take-risks-in-business/

“How Do I Take a Risk in Business”: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/risk-business-5133.html

“10 Smart Ways Successful Entrepreneurs Take Risks”: http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/10-smart-ways-successful-entrepreneurs-take-risks/

Until next time…